A LOAD CARRIER CONSTRUCTED TO BE TOWED BY A TRACTOR

Abstract: A load carrier, constructed to be towed by a tractor, comprises an elongate load-supporting structure, incorporating two or more parallel and horizontal bar (2) or rod members, whose first end is foremost when being towed by a tractor and where two road wheels (5) are in pivoted supports so that, when desired, the wheels can be raised in order to allow the structure to move on, or near to the ground so that the horizontal bar (2) or rod members can pass under a bale of fodder or into the recess in a palleted load and thereafter be lifted for transportation by a ram (10) action which lowers the wheels back again to ground contact and where the working action of the two rams (10, 11) is to ensure that the parallel bar members remain substantially horizontal during the lowering, raising and lateral movement of the load-supporting structure.

Description: A LOAD CARRIER CONSTRUCTED TO BE TOWED BY A TRACTOR According to the present invention there is provided a load carrier, constructed to be towed by a tractor, the load carrier including an elongate load-supporting structure having a first end and a second end, of which the first end is foremost when the load carrier is being towed by a tractor, two wheel supports pivotally connected to opposite sides of the load-supporting structure at locations between the first and second ends thereof, two road wheels mounted on the respective wheel supports, a draw bar having one end pivotally connected to the first end of the load-supporting structure, whilst the other end of the draw bar is constructed to be coupled to the tractor and first and second turning means for turning the wheel supports and the draw bar respectively, with respect to the load-supporting structure so that the road wheels can be raised for the load-supporting structure to be loaded and can be lowered for the load carrier to be towed by the tractor, the load-supporting structure being substantially horizontal in both the raised and the lowered positions of the road wheels. The load-supporting structure may include, at least at its second end, and, preferably, over its entire length, two or more parallel and horizontal bars, so that their ends at the second end of the load- supporting structure may be driven, in contact with, or very near the ground, under a load such as a bale of hay, straw or silage, or into the recesses of a pallet bearing the load, in the manner of a fork-lift truck. The first turning means for turning the wheel supports with respect to the load-supporting structure, may comprise a first piston and cylinder device (such devices are referred to below as rams) acting between the load-supporting structure and one wheel support and a second ram acting between the load-supporting structure and the other wheel support, it being arranged that these two rams operate in unison. A single ram may be used, one element (piston or cylinder) of which is pivotally connected to a bridge means which secures the two wheel supports to one another and which extends above the load on the load-supporting structure, whilst the other element of the ram (cylinder or piston) is pivotally connected to an upstanding member with the load-supporting structure at its first end. The second turning means, for turning the draw bar with respect to the load-supporting structure, is, preferably, a single ram having one element (piston or cylinder) pivotally connected to the above-mentioned upstanding member and the other element (cylinder or piston) pivotally connected to the draw bar. The two or three rams may be hydraulically or pneumatically operated. An example in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 show side views of a load carrier in a configuration for being loaded and in a configuration for being towed by a tractor, respectively. Figures 3 and 4 show end views of the load carrier in the configurations of Figures 1 and 2 respectively, a bale of hay on the load carrier being also shown, and, Figures 5 and 6 show side views of the load carrier in the configuration of Figure 2 and carrying a bale on another form of load, respectively. The load carrier shown in the drawings has been designed primarily to carry loads having a length up to about five metres or more, with or without pallets to support them, which it is believed cannot be satisfactorily transported using known fork-lift trucks or fork-lift and tractor combinations. The load may, for example, be a line of four round, wrapped bales of silage or a line of three larger round and unwrapped bales of hay or straw, or a container in which up to six cattle or a large number of sheep may be transported, or a feeder, for cattle or sheep, which may be filled, for example, with silage or hay, at one place and carried to another place where the animals may have access to its contents. The load is received by a load-supporting structure consisting of two horizontal and parallel bars 2, of circular cross-section and of length about five metres, which are tapered at their free ends to assist their being pushed under a bale. The bars are pivotally connected to respective sides of a frame structure 3 which consists of two wheel supports 4, on which road wheels 5 are mounted for rotation, two bridge members 6, which secures the two wheel supports 4 to one another and which extends above the load, and bracing members 7. The pivotal connections between the bars 2 and the wheel supports 4 have a common pivot axis X which is about midway between the opposite ends of the bars 2. A upstanding member 8 reinforces the load-supporting structure 3 and projects upwardly from its forward end, namely the end which is foremost when the load carrier is being towed by a tractor. At this forward end there is a pivotal connection between the member 8 and a draw bar 9 constructed for coupling to a tractor, the pivot axis being denoted by Y. Hydraulically operated rams 10 and 11 , pivotally connected at their ends, act between the parts 3 and 8 in one case and between parts 8 and 9 in the other case. They are operated by a single lever in the tractor (not shown), to alter the orientation of the parts 3 and 9 whilst keeping the bars 2 substantially horizontal. A positive locking device (not shown) ensures that the hydraulic system is not subjected to any load except when it is desired to change the positions of the road wheels 5 as described below. When the rams are in one condition, the road wheels 5 are raised, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 so that the load carrier may be pushed to the left (considering Figure 1) by the tractor so that the tapered ends 12 of the bars 2 may be pushed under a first bale 13. Then the rams may be put in another condition so that the road wheels 5 are lowered onto the ground, and the bars 2 are raised, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the load carrier may be driven to another bale before raising the road wheels again. In order to load a second bale onto the bars 2 the first bale 13 is placed adjacent to and in line with the second bale and bars 2 are pushed under the two bales. The rams are then activated as before to raise the bars 2 and the two bales on the bars 2. In similar manner a third or a fourth bale may be formed as a line of bales on the load carrier by simply repeating the procedure described above. During such a bale loading procedure the tractor driver has no need to dismount from the tractor. Referring to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings the load may be used to carry a cattle trailer 14. It will also be appreciated that alternate loads such as a sheep trailer or an animal feed container may be carried by the load carrier in place of the cattle trailer 14. The invention as described above may be modified and/or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,the load carrier including an elongate load-supporting structure having a first end and a second end,of which the first end is foremost when the load carrier is being towed by a tractor, wo wheel supports pivotally connected to opposite sides of the load- supporting structure at locations oetween the first and second ends thereof, two road wheels mounted on the respective wheel supports,a draw bar having one end pivotally connected to the first end of the load-supporting structure, whilst the other end of the draw oar is constructed to be coupled to the tract¬ or and first and second turning means for turning the wheel supports and the draw bar respectively,with respect to the load-supporting structure so that the road wheels can be raised for the load-supporting structure to be loaded and can be lowered for the load carrier to be towed by the tractor,the load-supporting structure being substantially horizontal in both the raised and the lowered positions on the road wheels. 2. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to Claim 1 wherein the load supporting structure includes,preferably over its entire length,two or more parallel and horizontal bars so that their shaped or tapered extremities at the second end of the structure may be driven,in contact with or very near the ground,underneath a load such as bales of hay,straw,silage or into the re¬ cesses of a pallet carried load. 3. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to Claims 1 and Claim 2 wherein a first turning means for turning the wheel supports with res¬ pect to the load-supporting structure comprises a first ram acting between the load-supporting structure and one wheel support and a second ram acting between the structure and the other wheel support where it is arranged that both rams always act in unison. o A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to Claims 1 and 3 wherein the two rams which act in unison are replaced ~ oy a single ran which is pivotally connected to a bridge means which secures the two wheel supports to each other and which extends above the load-supporting structure whilst the other end of the ram is pivotally connected to an upstanding member in the load-supporting structure at the first end. 5. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to Claim 1 where¬ in a second turning means,for turning the draw bar with respect to the load- supporting structure is preferably a sungle ram which is pivotally connected to the draw bar and an upstanding-member in the load supporting structure at its first end. 6.A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to Claims 3, and 5 wherein the rams may oe hydraulically or pneumatically operated. 7.A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to any of the above Claims wherein positive locking devices at the first and second ends ensure that the ram systems are not subjected to any load except when it is desired to change the positions of the road wheels or deaw bar. 8. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to any of the above Claims wherein the load may be other than bales of fodder,for example a trailer for carrying cattle,sheep or animal feeding stuff containers. 9. A load carrier,constructed to be towed by a tractor,according to any of the above Claims but substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: MORROW JOHN, MORROW, JOHN
Applicants: MORROW JOHN, MORROW, JOHN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B60P1
IPC codes: A01D90, B60P1