EQUIPMENT FOR TRANSPORT AND HANDLING OF CONTAINERS AND OTHER LARGER LOAD CARRIERS

Abstract: The invention concerns equipment for transport of containers (8) and other larger load carriers which, together with a load carrying frame, form a load unit (7) arranged so as to be able to be placed on a load changer (2) on a first vehicle (1), which is fitted with devices (6) for manoeuvring of the load unit (7) when this is to be placed on or unloaded from the load changer. The load changer frame (20) is fitted with an upward-pointing stand (pillar) (21) at the front end. The stand is fitted with a coupling device (27) for coupling together the vehicle's projection (6) with the stand. The load changer frame (20) is longer than the load changer (2), so that the load carrying frame projects with a rear end part beyond the rear end (10) of the load changer. The rear end part of the load carrying frame is fitted with at least one pair of wheels (38). When the load unit is unloaded, the stand (21) can be swung down towards the ground through rotation about a horizontal pivot (22) for conversion of the load unit (7) to a trailer (7′). The swung-down column can thereafter act as a drawbar (21′) on the trailer (7′).

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The invention concerns equipment for transport and handling of containers and other larger load carriers which, together with a load carrying frame, forms a load unit designed so as to be able to be placed on a load changer on a first vehicle which is fitted with devices for manoeuvring of the load unit when this is to be placed on or unloaded from the load changer, with this load carrying frame being fitted with an upward-pointing stand (pillar) at the front end with coupling mechanism for coupling of the said manoeuvring devices with the stand. BACKGROUND ART Whole crop harvesting is a new and old method for gathering in all valuable components of harvest crops, i.e. not only seed corn but also straw, blades and husks. In its modern form this technique entails the whole plant except the root system and a short stubble being cut directly on the field by the harvesting machine. The cut produce is collected in a container which is carried by the harvesting machine. When the container is full it is transported to a centre, after which the cut produce is separated into different components or treated in another way. So that the new technique's advantages may be able to be utilised in an effective manner it is essential that all steps in the handling system can be carried out in a rational way. This entails among other things that all forms of transport must be able to be carried out rationally and that load transfer must be able to be avoided as far as possible. The latter condition has not been able to be solved in a satisfactory way with the aid of known technology. BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An aim of the invention is to offer equipment which solves the abovementioned problems connected with whole crop harvesting better than known equipment, wether it is a question of grain crops or other crops. The application of the invention is not, however, limited to this sphere, but can with advantage be used also in many other fields where there is a requirement to change between carried and towed transportation. Examples of such requirements are to be found in forestry, peat handling, manufacturing, industry and many other fields. According to the invention the load unit can be converted to a trailer which can be coupled directly to a tractor or other towing vehicle for transport of the load carrier between a loading place, for example a harvest field, and an emptying place, for example a receiving centre or similar. This conversion capability can be achieved through the fact that the load carrying frame is longer than the load changer, so that the load carrying frame projects with a part at the rear end beyond the rear end of the load changer, that the aforesaid rear end part on the load carrying frame is fitted with at least one pair of wheels, and through the fact that the aforesaid stand at the front end of the load unit can be swung down, when the load unit is unloaded, through rotation of a horizontal member, so that the dropped column can serve as a drawbar when the load unit is converted into a trailer. Preferably the stand has an L-shaped profile, while the aforesaid member forming a coupling between the end of the short shank of the L and the front end of the main part of the load carrying frame. Further it is advisable to have one or more ground supports fitted to the upper part of the stand, more closely on the side which, in relation to the L shape, is turned leftwards from the vertical shank of the L. These ground supports function when the load unit is converted to a trailer and the towing vehicle is uncoupled. The ground supports can have the form of feet or wheels. The power sources for converting the load unit to a trailer and vice versa comprise a pair of hydraulic cylinders which are fitted on the load unit in order to produce the rotational movements around the horizontal axis of rotation of the aforesaid member. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the patent claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the following description of a preferred embodiment reference will be made to the enclosed drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle, called the first vehicle, which is fitted in a manner which is in itself known with a load changer and so called projection for manoeuvring of a load unit, Fig. 2 shows the same vehicle as in Fig. 1 fitted with a header and a load unit with the container belonging to it placed on the load changer, Fig. 3 is a side view of the load unit on a larger scale, Fig. 4 is an end view IV-IV in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side view, which shows how the load unit converted to a trailer can be coupled to a tractor. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Figs. 1 and 2 a first vehicle is designated with the numeral 1. This consists of a front part with driver's cab 5 and a rear part with load changer 2. Between the two parts there is an articulated frame steering hinge 9. The front part has a pair of front wheels 3, and the rear part has a pair of rear wheels 4. The basic construction of the vehicle 1 is known in the art and does not constitute any part of the invention. Its rear end has been designated 10. At the rear end 10 of the load changer 2 there are "roll-on roll-­ off" rollers, in a way that is in itself well known, for unloading and loading of a load unit 7, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, consisting of a container 8 and a load carrying frame 20. The container 8 and the load carrying frame are attached to each other by welding, On the load changer 2 there is also a projection 6 for manoeuvring of the load unit 7 in connection with unloading and loading. The projection 6 consists, in a well known manner, of an angled beam construction with a straight first part 12, which is horizontal in the rest position, and another angled part which includes a vertical pillar 13, which is terminated in a hook 14, and a horizontal part 13′, which is telescopically movable in the first part 12. The first part 12 is connected at its rear end to the load changer 2 through a horizontal manoeuvre arm shaft. In the load changer 2 two parallel first hydraulic cylinders 16 are fitted, one on each side of the first part of the beam 12, in order to be able to swing the projection 6 through rotation about the said shaft in order to drop the projection 6 backwards to the position marked with a dotted line in Fig. 1. In addition there are other hydraulic cylinders - not shown - in order to project the vertical pillar 13 forwards and backwards in relation to the load changer, with the horizontal part 13′ moving telescopically in the first named part 12 in connection with unloading and loading of the load unit 7. In Fig. 2 it is shown how the vehicle 1 functions as a combined implement carrier and load carrier. The front part has been fitted with a header 17 and a chopper 18. The chopped harvest crop is transported with the aid of a blower and a duct 19 to the container 8. The vehicle 1 also contains a hydraulic motor to operate the system's various hydraulic components. The above described construction belongs to well known technology. The new element resides in the design of the load unit 7. The load unit 7 comprises on the one hand the abovementioned load carrying frame 20, which is fixed by welding to the container 8, and on the other hand a stand (pillar) 21, which is shaped like an L, whose right-hand arm at its right-hand end is pivotally connected to the front end of the load carrying frame 20 by a horizontal hinge 22. The rear main section of the load changer frame 20 consists in the well known manner of longitudinal parallel side beams and crossbeams welded together into a framework 31, which in its turn is fixed by welding to the container 8. The stand 21 includes a pair of beams, which have, as has already been mentioned, from the side the shape of an L. The two shorter, parallell arms, which at their outer ends are pivotally connected to the framework 31 by the pivot 22 (turning axis), have been designated 23 and the two longer arms have been designated 24, Fig. 4. The knee bend in the angle between the two arms 23 and 24 of the L has been designated 33. The two longer arms 24 approach each other at the outer ends, where they are joined together by a welded plate construction 25 containing a pair of side plates 26. Between these two side plates 26 there extends a link 27 arranged to work in conjunction with the hook 14 on the projection 6. In addition there is an eye 28 attached to an end plate 29 on the plate construction 25. The two longer arms 24 both also feature on the outside a pair of supporting feet 15 with legs 39, which are pivotally connected with the two shanks 24. The load unit 7 is substantially longer than the load changer 2. In the rear part of the load unit, which projects beyond the rear edge 10 of the load changer 2 when the load unit 7 is mounted on the load changer 2, there are two pairs of bogie wheels 38, which hang free in the air when the load unit 7 with the container 8 is loaded on the vehicle 1. The equipment described can be handled in the following manner. Suppose that the load unit 7 with the container 8 is loaded on the load changer 2, and that the container 8 has been filled with harvest produce and is to be transported to a receiving centre. The load unit 7 with the container is unloaded from the load changer 2 with the aid of the projection 6 and the hydraulic cylinders belonging to it in the well known manner. The unloaded unit is thus standing inclined forwards with the back pair of bogie wheels 38 and the knee bend 33 resting on the ground. With the aid of a pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders 30 fitted between a horizontal beam 40 on the container's front end and a pair of fastening lugs 41 on the outside of the arms 24 a bit above the knee bend 33 the stand 21 swings forwards and downwards through rotation about the turning axis 22. The knee bend 33 is then pressed harder against the ground after the arms 23 and 24 are pressed forwards and downwards, so that the load unit rises upwards at the same time as the pair of bogie wheels 38 rolls slightly forwards. The ground supports 15 soon come to reach the ground. Through continued rotation about the axis 22 the hydraulic cylinder 30 continues to project the stand 21 away from itself and press the feet 15 against the ground, so that the knee bends 33 leave the ground until the load carrying frame 20 has assumed a substantially horizontal position. The load changer frame 20 has now been converted into a truck 7′ or trailer consisting of a container 8 on the framework 31 which forms the chassis of the truck 7′. At the rear there are the wheels 38 and at the front a drawbar 21′, formed by the swung-down pillar 21. The truck 7′ can be coupled to a tractor 43 by means of the eye 28 at the end of the drawbar 21′. The unit can then be moved to the receiving centre or similar, where the container is emptied. The tractor 43 with the truck 7′ can then be driven back, the truck 7′ is uncoupled and converted to a load unit 7 through return of the drawbar 21′ so that instead it forms a stand (pillar) 21 with attachment 27 for the hook 14 on the projection 6 etc.

Claims: 1. Equipment for transport and handling of containers (8) and other larger load carriers which, together with a load carrying frame (20), forms a load unit (7) arranged so as to be able to be placed on a load changer (2) on a first vehicle (1), which is fitted with a device (6) for manoeuvring of the load unit (7) when this is to be placed on or unloaded from the load changer, with this load carrying frame being fitted with an upward-pointing stand (pillar) (21) at the front end with a coupling device (27) for coupling together of the aforementioned manoeuvring device (6) and the stand,characterised by the fact that the load carrying frame (20) is longer than the load changer (2), so that the load carrying frame projects with a rear end part beyond the rear end (10) of the load changer, that the aforesaid rear end part of the load carrying frame is fitted with at least one pair of wheels (38), and that the aforesaid stand (21), when the load unit is unloaded, can be swung down through rotation about a horizontal axis (22) for converting the load unit (7) into a trailer (7′), with the swung-down stand being able to act as a drawbar (21′) on the trailer (7′). 2. Equipment as per claim 1, characterised by the fact that the stand has an L-shaped side profile, with the aforementioned pivot (22) forming a coupling between the end of the short arm (23) of said L and the front end of the main part (31) of the load carrying frame (20). 3. Equipment as per claim 2, characterised by the fact that at least one ground support (15, 38) is fitted on the upper part (24) of the stand (21), and the ground support is arranged to be pressed against the ground when the load unit is converted to a trailer (7′). 4. Equipment as per any of the claims 1-3, characterised by the fact that a pair of hydraulic cylinders (30) is fitted so as to rotate the stand (21) in relation to the load carrying frame (20) about the aforesaid axis (22) and in the final phase of this movement of rotation to press the ground supports against the ground in order to raise up thereby the front part of the load unit (7) converted into a trailer (7′). 5. Equipment as per claim 4, characterised by the fact that the load carrier (8) is integrated and that the said hydraulic cylinders (30) are fitted between the stand (21) and the load carrier (8).

Inventors: BRUNER, HASSE, PERSSON, LARS-INGE, Brunér, Hasse
Applicants: RIPPELTON N.V.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B60P1
IPC codes: A01D90, B60D1, B60S9