LOAD CARRIER

Abstract: A load carrier (1) intended to be pulled by a tractor comprises a frame (2) adapted to carry a load, a chassis (8) having wheels (9) for bearing on the ground as well as a turntable (11) arranged in the neighbourhood of the rear end of the frame with respect to the pulling direction for connecting a trailer to the load carrier.

Description: LOAD CARRIER TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a load carrier intended to be pulled by a tractor according to the preamble of the appended claim 1. A problem on transportation of load by tractors is to be able to bring as much load as the roads, bridges and the regulations of each country allow along in an easy way, i.e. with one and the same tractor and preferably the same load carrier. The difference between the legisla¬ tion of different countries with respect to the allowed maximum length of a vehicle combination is of vital importance. For example, at present only vehicle combinations with a maximum length of 18,35 me¬ tres may be conveyed on the roads within the present EU-countries, whereas the allowed maximum length is 24 metres in Sweden. This problem is applicable to any countries having different such maximum lengths. Thus, in the particular Sweden case trailers pulled or towed by so called trailer tractors mostly arrive to Sweden from the countries having the shorter maximum length mentioned above, and these are then transported to the respective place of unloading in Sweden with a total length of the vehicle combination being considerably, i.e. with at least 5,65 metres, below the maximum length allowed in Sweden. This unsatisfactory utilization of what the tractor is allowed to convey in Sweden continues during the entire stay in Sweden of the vehicle, which frequently after said unloading implies a transport to other parts of Sweden, often to northern Sweden, for collecting load to be ex¬ ported to other countries, and then transport to the Swedish border. Since it is from the economic point of view very important to be able to utilize the maximum length allowed of a vehicle combination in the re¬ spective country this means that particular load carriers, but also trac- tors, will be used for domestic transportations and different ones for transportations over the borders of the country. For example, so called trailer tractors are used, i.e. vehicles having a connection, to which a trailer may be turnably connected through a so called kingpin or axle pin, said connection receiving a part of the weight of the trailer, only to a small extension in Sweden, since it is not possible to obtain the maximum vehicle combination length allowed in Sweden by such a vehicle, whereas tractors of this type are used to a very large extent in the present EU-countries. Tractors having a load carrier secured on the very vehicle are the most common ones in Sweden, but it is in practice impossible to pull said trailers by such tractors. Furthermore, it is likely that certain countries in the future will allow longer vehicle combination lengths on certain road networks, for instance motor highways or the like, than on other road networks, and in such cases the problems discussed above are there. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to find a remedy to the iπconven- iences mentioned above and provide a load carrier enabling a better utilization of the limits set by the regulations of the respective country for transportation of load by tractors on wheels. This object is in accordance with the invention obtained by providing a load carrier of the type defined in the introduction also with a turntable arranged in the neighbourhood of the rear end of the frame with respect to the pulling direction for connecting a trailer to the load carrier. Thus, this makes it possible to connect a trailer to a load carrier pulled by a tractor, so that on appropriately designing the length of the load carrier the tractor in question may in Sweden convey a vehicle combination close to the maximum length allowed in Sweden while si¬ multaneously carrying such a trailer along, which is usual in our neighbour countries having a shorter maximum length allowed of a vehicle combination. Such a trailer arriving to Sweden or to a special road network within any other country may in this way be connected to the load carrier according to the invention and thereafter be trans¬ ported further while carrying additional load along on the load carrier in question. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said load carrier comprises means arranged in the neighbourhood of the front end of the frame with respect to the pulling direction for connecting the load carrier to a turntable of a trailer tractor. This means a great flexibility in transportation of loads, since it is now possible to use so called trailer tractors for transportation of loads in different countries having different maximum lengths allowed for a vehicle combination while utilizing these maximum lengths to a maximum. For instance, a trailer tractor with a common standard trailer arriving from Denmark to Sweden may under the existing regulations be provided with the load carrier according to the invention, the trailer be attached to this and then a longer vehicle combination be conveyed during the time in Sweden with the same trailer tractor. Thus, trailer tractors get a considerably larger field of application in Sweden by this embodiment of the invention, and it will be a tractor having a very large flexibility and thereby being much more interesting than the tractors having a fixed load carrier used nowadays for 24 metres transports. It is of course also possible to connect a load carrier according to the invention to the rear turntable of such a load carrier when this em¬ bodiment of the load carrier of the invention is used, so that said trailer tractor may also be used for pulling such a vehicle combination, which accordingly does not include any conventional trailer. This makes it possible to for instance transport containers or exchangeable load car¬ rying structures with load on both load carriers while utilizing the maximum length allowed of a vehicle combination, but it is of course also possible that the load carriers have fixed such load containing units. One of the load carriers may when necessary be disconnected and a trailer instead be connected to the other load carrier. In this and the following discussion "Sweden" may be considered to comprise all road networks, also in totally different countries, on which longer vehicle combination lengths than on road networks connected thereto are allowed. According to a further, very advantageous embodiment of the invention said load carrier comprises an arrangement arranged to allow mutual displacement in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier of a load containing unit intended to rest on the frame and a member for carrying the turntable of the load carrier between fixed positions. Thanks to this possibility to mutual displacement offered by this arrangement, it is possible to easily carry out loading and unloading at a wharf or quay, since when a trailer is brought along it may go backwardly to the wharf and be disconnected from the load carrier and the load carrier may then after a suitable displacement of the load con¬ taining unit thereof and said carrier member with respect to each other to a position in which said unit rearwardly substantially reaches at least to the rear limitation of the carrier member, go backwardly with the load containing unit thereof substantially all the way to the edge of the wharf. According to a still further preferred embodiment of the invention said arrangement comprises means for allowing displacement of the member for carrying the turntable of the load carrier with respect to the frame in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier, said carrier member is formed by or arranged on said chassis, and the chassis is arranged displaceable with respect to the frame in the longitudinal di¬ rection of the load carrier. Thanks to this displaceability of the chassis with respect to the frame of the load carrier an additional advantage is achieved concerning the flexibility when load is conveyed by the load carrier according to the invention. Accordingly, it will be possible to adapt the distance between the wheel axles of the chassis and the adjacent wheel axles, i.e. usually of the tractor, to the weight of the load and the road regulations, primarily concerning transportation over bridges. Thus, it will be possible to transport a comparatively heavy load in conventional containers or exchangeable load carrier structures through the load carrier according to the invention thanks to the fact that the axle distance may be made sufficiently large by displacing the chassis of the load carrier rearwardly with respect to the frame thereof. Furthermore, when the load carrier is pulled or towed by a trailer tractor and a trailer is connected to the load carrier the axle dis¬ tance between the axles of the trailer tractor and the wheel axles of the chassis of the load carrier will be so great, that a maximum load may be transported. When two load carriers according to the invention is connected to each other these may carry two very heavily loaded containers or exchangeable load carrying structures and easily transport them, for instance to a loading wharf, since the displaceabil¬ ity of the chassis results in the possibility to carry a maximum load with respect to the road regulations. According to a further development of the preferred embodiment of the invention first-mentioned above said connecting means are arranged displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the frame, which further improves the possibilities to obtain exactly the wheel axle distance asked for in the particular case. According to a further development of the embodiment having means for allowing displacement of the member for carrying the turntable of the load carrier, the load carrier comprises means for displacement of said carrier member or a piece secured thereto in the longitudinal di¬ rection of the load carrier with respect to the frame automatically and directly depending on the angle between the longitudinal extension of a trailer connected to the turntable of the load carrier and the load carrier so as to increase the displacement of this turntable rearwardly upon an increase of said angle and conversely. By using such an automatic adaption of the position of the turntable with respect to the frame of the load carrier in dependence of the angle between the load carrier and a trailer connected thereto, the space between the load containing unit of the load carrier and the trailer may be made very short when the load carrier and the trailer extend in the same longitu¬ dinal direction, but it will nevertheless be possible to turn this vehicle combination in a satisfying manner. Due to the fact that it is the length of the vehicle combination when the load carrier and the trailer are aligned in this way that determines whether or not the vehicle combination is within the limits of the law, a load containing unit, such as containers or exchangeable load carrying structures, of a maximum length may in this way be conveyed on the load carrier in combination with pulling a trailer. It is also possible to arrange such means in connection with means for connecting the load carrier to a turntable of a trailer tractor, if said connecting means are arranged displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the frame so as to be able to bring along an even longer load containing unit on the load carrier if possible. According to a further development of the additional very advanta¬ geous embodiment mentioned above allowing mutual displacement in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier of a load containing unit in¬ tended to rest on the frame and a member for carrying the turntable of the load carrier between fixed positions, the frame of the load carrier comprises a framework for carrying exchangeable load carrying structures and/or containers separable from the load carrier. Thanks to the possibility of such a load carrier to have containers and exchange¬ able load carrying structures a possibility to for instance transport the load carrier with one single exchangeable load carrying structure or one single container should this be desired, for instance in short distance transports between cities and/or different building construc¬ tion work places or the like, is obtained, except from the advantages already mentioned and associated with the existence of a turntable displaceable with respect to the frame for connecting a trailer to the load carrier. Thus, the load carrier according to the invention offers the additional possibility to transport exchangeable load carrying struc¬ tures and containers, and by connecting several such load carrying units in series, it will be possible to pull a plurality of exchangeable load carrying structures and/or containers and refrain from pulling a trailer should this be desired. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange an exchangeable load carrying structure or a container on the frame of the load carrier and connect a trailer to the rear turntable of the load carrier and in that way obtain a combination consisting of an ex- changeable load carrying structure or a container and a trailer. In some situations it may be very advantageous to supplement a trailer tractor having a trailer and arriving from a country or a road network allowing only the maximum length defined thereby in this way with the load carrier according to the invention and an exchangeable load carrying structure or a container on the frame thereof in this way at the arrival to a country or a road network allowing a larger maximum length so as to by that utilize the possibilities offered with respect to the load a vehicle may carry to a maximum. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the load carrier comprises means arranged to enable movement of the turnta¬ ble of the load carrier between at least a first fixed position, in which the rear limitation thereof projects rearwardly beyond the rear limita¬ tion of said carrier member, and a second fixed position, in which the rear limitation first-mentioned is located in front of or at the same level as the one last-mentioned. Thanks to the possibility to move the turntable of the load carrier offered by said means important advan¬ tages are obtained. By the fact that it is possible to move the turntable rearwardly with respect to the carrier member from said second fixed position to said first fixed position the carrier member does not have to be displaced that much rearwardly with respect to a load containing unit intended to rest on the frame, when a trailer is to be connected to said turntable, and it is thereby possible to obtain a substantial overlap in the front between said frame and the carrier member also in this operation position, so that the frame and the carrier member may be made lighter. It is at the same time possible to meet with the desires that the carrier member shall not project that far, i.e. said overlap should not be exaggeratedly large, in the position in which the carrier member is displaced most far forward I y with respect to the frame, i.e. in the position in which it shall not have any trailer connected thereto, but it shall be possible to go backwardly to a wharf, which is made possible by movement of the turntable to the second fixed position. The carrier member may in fact be in the way and cause problems, especially when driving through curves, if said overlap is to large in the contracted position. According to a preferred further development of the embodiment of the invention last-mentioned said moving means are arranged to allow displacement of the turntable of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. The ad- vantages discussed above of a turntable moveable with respect to the carrier member between said fixed positions may in this way be obtained by very simple means. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the load carrier comprises means arranged to allow displacement of the turntable of the load carrier in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member, and it comprises further means arranged to make the displacement of the turntable with respect to the carrier member dependent on the displacement of the latter with respect to said load carrying unit. It is in this way possible to adapt the axle distance of the load carrier to the load conditions prevailing in different situations, so that it is for example possible to have the distance between the turntable of the load carrier and the frame thereof or the load carrying unit constant all the time for allowing connection of a trailer to the turntable but move the wheel axles of the carrier member with respect to the wheel axles of said frame or the vehicle carrying it in dependence of different load requirements. Further advantages and advantageous characteristics of the invention will appear from the following description as well as the other depend¬ ent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention cited as examples. In the drawings: Fig 1 is a schematic view from above of a load carrier according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention in a first position, in which a trailer may be connected thereto, Fig 2 is a side elevation of the load carrier according to Fig 1 , Fig 3 is a side elevation of the load carrier according to Figs 1 and 2 in a second position, in which it is suited for loading and unloading of a load containing unit located on the load carrier, Fig 4 is a side elevation of the load carrier in the first position accord¬ ing to Figs 1 and 2, and it is connected to a trailer tractor and has an exchangeable load carrying structure resting on its frame and a trailer connected to its turntable, Fig 5 is a side elevation of the vehicle combination in Fig 4, but with the trailer disconnected and the load carrier transferred to the second position according to Fig 3, Fig 6 is a schematic view from above of a part of a carrier member displaceable with respect to a frame of a load carrier according to the invention according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention in a second fixed position, and Fig 7 is a view corresponding to Fig 6 with the turntable in a first fixed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION It is illustrated very schematically in Figs 1-3 a load carrier 1 accord¬ ing to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, but only the details of importance for illuminating the invention are shown. The load carrier comprises a frame 2 in the form of a framework of longitudinal 3 and transversal 4 beams. Two transversal beams 5 for supporting a load containing unit, such as a container or an exchangeable load car¬ rying structure, are arranged on top of the framework of the frame 2. The load carrier comprises further means arranged in the neighbour¬ hood of the front end of the frame with respect to the pulling direction for connecting a load carrier to a turntable of a trailer tractor, i.e. a so called kingpin 6, which normally is an axle pin having a diameter of 50 mm. The axle pin 6 is arranged on a carrier or a cradle 7, which is connected to opposite longitudinal beams 3 of the frame 2 in a displaceable manner, so that the position of the axle pin may be adjusted in the longitudinal direction with respect to the frame 2 and locked in different such positions by locking means not shown for enabling both of the types of tractors having 2 and 3 axles as well as so as to make it possible to in an optimum way distribute the load over the axles to such a tractor and the wheel axles of the load carrier. The load carrier further has a chassis 8 with wheels 9 for bearing on the ground 10. The chassis has in the present case two wheel axles, but another number, for instance three, is also possible. A conven¬ tional turntable 11 for connecting a trailer having a so called kingpin to the load carrier is arranged on the chassis close to the wheels 9 thereof. The chassis 8 is connected to the frame displaceably in the longitudinal direction with respect to the frame and securable with re¬ spect to the frame in fixed positions. The longitudinal beams of the frame have for this sake guiding means, preferably in the form of profile slots, intended to engage with corresponding guiding means 12 of the chassis so as to be able to carry out a guided displacement movement with respect to the longitudinal beams 3 of the frame. The chassis comprises a framework having longitudinal beams 13 at the front end of which a transversal beam 14 is secured and has said guiding means 12. Means for locking the chassis 8 in different fixed positions with respect to the frame are schematically indicated in Fig 2 by a ring 15. This is preferably accomplished by introducing locking pins or rods into female members of the load carrier chassis 8 indicated by the ring 15. The load carrier in question is a so called trailer, which when it is not connected to a trailer tractor through the axle pin 6 rests on the ground 10, besides through the wheels 9, also through two legs, which are ar¬ ranged at the opposite end of the load carrier and may be pivoted downwardly with respect to the frame for parking the load carrier. These legs have nothing to do with the invention and have therefore been omitted in the Figures for the sake of clearness. When the load carrier according to the invention is connected to a trailer tractor the load from the dead weight thereof as well as the load resting on the load carrier will be carried by the wheels 9 and by the wheels of the trailer tractor through transferring to the turntable of the trailer tractor. It is illustrated in Fig 3 how the chassis 8 is displaced into under the frame 2 and is locked in a position, in which the turntable 1 1 is arranged under the frame and the rear edge of the chassis makes it possible to go backwardly with the load carrier with a load resting thereon substantially to the edge of a loading wharf. In the case that the beams 5 of the load carrier support a load containing unit extending further rearwardly than the rear edge of the frame, it would be possible to displace the chassis with respect to the frame somewhat further rearwardly than what has been shown in Fig 3 and still be able to go backwardly to a wharf. The displaceability of the chassis 8 and thereby of the turntable 11 with respect to the frame enables both an alternative between pulling a trailer connected to the load carrier 1 with the latter (the position according to Figs 1 and 2) and in absence of such a trailer or when it is disconnected go backwardly to a loading wharf and to adjust the dis- tance between the axles of the wheels 9 and the axles of the trailer tractor pulling the load carrier so as to adapt this distance to the weight of the load to be transported thereby. The kingpin carrier 7 may also be displaced for obtaining an optimum such adaption. By means of the load carrier according to the invention it will hereby be possible to transport containers and exchangeable load carrying structures having heavy loads, which a tractor having a fixed load carrier would not manage to take with the wheel axle distances existing in such a vehicle. The function of the device according to the invention will now be explained by now also referring to Figs 4 and 5. The load carrier is in¬ tended to be connected to a conventional turntable of a conventional so called trailer tractor 17 through the axle pin 6. A container or an ex¬ changeable load carrying structure 18 may be arranged on carrier beams 5 of the load carrier, and in the case of an exchangeable load carrying structure 18 this takes preferably place by driving the load carrier into under the exchangeable load carrying structure resting on the ground through four legs and then raising the vehicle. Other possibilities to load also exist. In the case shown in Fig 4 it is intended to be a question of an exchangeable load carrying structure of 7,15 metres, which is a standard length. A trailer 19 is connected to the load carrier through introduction of the so called kingpin thereof into the turntable 11 of the load carrier 1. A part of the weight of the trailer will thereby be transferred to the axles of the wheels 9. The trailer 19 is in the case shown in Fig 4 intended to have the standard length 13,6 metres existing within the European Union. The vehicle combination obtained in this way has a length falling below 24 metres and may thereby according to the present regulations be conveyed in Sweden. When the vehicle combination arrives to a place for loading or unload¬ ing it may go backwardly with the trailer 19 to a loading wharf, whereupon the trailer is put on the front legs thereof and is discon- nected from the load carrier. The trailer tractor with the load carrier is then driven forwardly, whereupon a displacement of the chassis 8 with respect to the frame 2 to the position shown in Fig 5, for instance through activating any type of brake on the wheels 9 of the chassis and then go backwardly with the trailer tractor, takes place. The vehicle shown in Fig 5 may then be driven backwardly to the loading wharf for comfortable loading or unloading of the exchangeable load carrying structure 18. Thus, it is possible to transport a conventional trailer 19 also in countries allowing larger maximum lengths of a vehicle combination while simultaneously bringing a further load along, for instance in a container or an exchangeable load carrying structure, at the same time as loading and unloading of the trailer as well as the other load containing unit may take place in a comfortable way without using any special lifting devices, such as a crane or a truck. Additionally, one and the same vehicle, i.e. a trailer tractor, may be used both for such transportation within a country and transportation of the trailer 19 in other countries having a shorter maximum length of a vehicle combi¬ nation. Thus, domestic traffic may smoothly be integrated with traffic for export and/or import. It is also possible to make one or both of the carrier 7 and the chassis 8 moveable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier in depend¬ ence of the angle present between the trailer tractor and the load carrier and the load carrier and the trailer connected thereto, respec¬ tively, so as to utilize the maximum length allowed of such a vehicle combination better, as described above, and then for instance be able to simultaneously transport an exchangeable load carrying structure of 7,82 metres and a trailer of 13,6 metres. Such a movement in the longitudinal direction of the kingpin carrier 7 or the chassis 8 may take place for example mechanically, by a toothed ring or in an hydraulic way. It is illustrated very schematically in Figs 6 and 7 how the rear turntable 11 in a second embodiment of the invention may be made displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member 8 between at least a first fixed position (Fig 7), in which the rear limitation thereof projects rearwardly beyond the rear limitation of the carrier member, and a second fixed position (Fig 6), in which the rear limitation first-mentioned is located in front of the last-mentioned. This displaceability is provided by arranging the turntable 11 on a carriage 20 displaceable with respect to the carrier member 8, possibly through any power means not shown. Means not shown either for locking the carriage in different positions with respect to the carrier member 8 are also there, and it is desired to be able to adjust the carriage at least almost infinitely with respect to the carrier member 8 in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. It could then be possible to obtain a maximum projection of the carriage beyond the rear edge 21 of the carrier member 8 in the order of one metre. It will in this way be possible to bring the turntable 11 within the limitation of the carrier member (Fig 6) in the case that the carrier member is to be displaced forwardly with respect to the frame for enabling going backwardly to a wharf with a load carrying unit carried on the frame, but the turntable 11 may at the same time be moved comparatively far backwardly with respect to said frame for connecting a trailer thereto without the necessity to displace a carrier member 8 particularly far backwardly with respect to the frame. Thus, it will be possible to maintain a considerable overlap between the frame and the carrier member in such a trailer traction position, so that larger parts of these may carry loads and they may thereby be made lighter and the load carrier may thereby take more real load. It will at the same time be possible to design the carrier member so that it does not project forwardly exaggeratedly far with respect to the frame in the most contracted position thereof and still a trailer may be connected to the turntable in the opposite position. Such an exaggerated overlap would cause the carrier member to be in the way of other parts and create problems, especially when driving through curves. It would further be well possible to co-ordinate the displacement movement of the turntable 11 of the load carrier with the displacement movement of the carrier member, so that the turntable will all the time have a constant distance to the frame of the load carrier and a load containing unit possibly resting thereon, so that it is possible to pull a trailer connected to the turntable, but the axles of the carrier member are moved with respect to the wheel axles of the frame or the vehicle pulling it depending on different load requirements. The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the preferred embodiments described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a man with skill in the art, without departing from the basic idea of the invention. For instance, the load mentioned in claim 1 is intended to comprise also the case of a load containing unit fixedly arranged on the load carrier, such as for instance a tipper body. "Load carrier intended to be pulled by a tractor" comprises also the case in which the load carrier in question is permanently connected to the tractor. Trailer tractors are intended to comprise all types of tractors or traction vehicles having a turnable connection for connecting a trailer thereto, said connection being intended to carry a part of the weight of the trailer. Thus, it is not necessary that the trailer tractor is of a conventional type and exactly intended to pull the standard trailers discussed above. It would of course be possible to arrange the turntable of the load carrier on another carrier member than the chassis of the load carrier and make this carrier member displaceable with respect to the frame of the load carrier, but this would then mean that the advantage of the possibility to adjust the wheel axle distance for transporting very heavy loads by the load carrier will then be lost. It would also be possible to displace a load containing unit arranged on the load carrier with respect to the turntable instead of displacing the turntable of the load carrier with respect to the frame of the load carrier, for example by arranging the beams or the like supporting said unit displaceable, so that it would in this way be possible to change between a position in which it is possible to connect a trailer to the load carrier and a position in which the load carrier without such a trailer may be driven backwardly all the way to a wharf with the load containing unit carried thereby. The chassis and the axle pin carrier of the load carrier located at the front may be displaced along the frame in any desired and suitable way, for instance by hand or by means of hydraulic. It would of course also be possible to design the means for moving the turntable of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member in other ways than by arranging a displaceable carriage, and also other movements than displacement would principally be possible, such as pivoting of the turntable with respect to the carrier member or a piece carried thereby. According to one embodiment of the invention exactly said moving means is also formed by an arrangement of the turntable of the load carrier pivotably with respect to the carrier member about an axis extending substantially horizontally and substantially perpen¬ dicularly to the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. It is hereby possible to pivot the turntable from a normal towing position, in which it is arranged to project, normally approximately 0,3 m, beyond the rear limitation of the carrier member, and downwardly forwardly with the rear end thereof inwardly towards the carrier member, to an inactive position, in which it is located within or on the same level as the rear limitation of the carrier member and enables for instance driving the frame with the carrier member introduced thereunder backwardly close to a wharf.

Claims: Claims 1. A load carrier intended to be pulled by a tractor, which comprises a frame (2) adapted to carry a load (18) and a chassis (8) having wheels (9) for bearing on the ground, characterized in that it further com¬ prises a turntable (11) arranged in the neighbourhood of the rear end of the frame with respect to the pulling direction for connecting a trailer (19) to the load carrier. 2. A load carrier according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means (6, 7) arranged in the neighbourhood of the front end of the frame (2) with respect to the pulling direction for connecting the load carrier to a turntable (16) of a trailer tractor (17). 3. A load carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises an arrangement (3, 12-14) adapted to allow mutual dis¬ placement of a unit containing a load and intended to rest on the frame (2) and a member (8) for carrying the turntable (11 ) of the load carrier in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier between fixed positions. 4. A load carrier according to claim 3, characterized in that said ar¬ rangement is adapted to allow said mutual displacement at least between a first position, in which said unit (18) carried by the frame (2) rearwardly substantially reaches at least to the rear limitation of said carrier member (8), and a second position, in which said carrier member (8) projects at least so much with respect to said unit (18) and the frame (2) that a trailer (19) may be connected to the turntable (11 ) thereof. 5. A load carrier according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said arrangement comprises means (12) for allowing a displacement of said member (8) for carrying the turntable (11) of the load carrier with respect to the frame in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. 6. A load carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that said car¬ rier member is formed by or arranged on said chassis (8), and that the chassis (8) is displaceably arranged with respect to the frame (2) in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. 7. A load carrier according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the frame (2) has guiding means arranged to engage with and enable guided displacement with respect to the frame (2) of corresponding engaging means arranged on the carrier member or on a piece se¬ cured thereto. 8. A load carrier according to claim 7, characterized in that said guiding and engaging means are made telescopically. 9. A load carrier according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the guiding means are formed by profiles of longitudinal beams (3) of the frame (2), in which said engaging means (12) are guidedly displace¬ ably received. 10. A load carrier according to any of claims 5-9, characterized in that it comprises means (15) for locking the carrier member (8) or a piece secured thereto with respect to the frame (2). 11. A load carrier according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking means comprise male members movable into locking engage¬ ment with female members in certain mutual positions of the frame (2) and the carrier member (8) or a piece secured thereto. 12. A load carrier according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said arrangement comprises means for allowing displacement of a unit (8) containing a load and carried by the frame with respect to the frame (2). 13. A load carrier according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises members (5) displaceable with respect to the frame (2) in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier and on which said unit (18) carried by the load carrier is intended to rest. 14. A load carrier according to any of claims 3-13, characterized in that it comprises means (20) arranged to enable movement of the turntable (1 1 ) of the load carrier between at least a first fixed position, in which the rear limitation thereof projects rearwardly beyond the rear limitation of said carrier member (8), and a second fixed position, in which the rear limitation first-mentioned is located in front of or at the same level as the last-mentioned. 15. A load carrier according to claim 14, characterized in that said moving means (20) are adapted to allow displacement of the turntable (11) of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member (8) in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. 16. A load carrier according to claim 15, characterized in that said moving means comprise a carriage (20) received displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier in said carrier member (8), and that the turntable (11) of the load carrier is arranged on this carriage. 17. A load carrier according to any of claims 3-16, characterized in that it comprises means arranged to allow displacement of the turntable (11) of the load carrier in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the carrier member (8). 18. A load carrier according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises means arranged to make the displacement of the turntable with respect to the carrier member (8) dependent on the displacement of the latter with respect to said unit containing a load and intended to rest on the frame. 19. A load carrier according to claim 14, characterized in that said displacing means are created by arranging the turntable (11 ) of the load carrier pivotably with respect to the carrier member (8) about an axis extending substantially horizontally and substantially perpendicu- larly to the longitudinal direction of the load carrier. 20. A load carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame (2) of the load carrier comprises a framework for carrying exchangeable load carrying structures (18) and/or containers separa¬ ble from the load carrier. 21. A load carrier according to claim 20, characterized in that said framework is arranged to be able to receive at least a conventional exchangeable load carrying structure (18) of 7,15 m and the turntable (11) of the load carrier is arranged to at the same time be able to receive a standard trailer (19) of 13,6 m. 22. A load carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for displacement of said carrier member (8) or a piece secured thereto in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier with respect to the frame (2) automatically and directly depending on the angle between the longitudinal extension of a trailer (19) con¬ nected to the turntable (11) of the load carrier and the load carrier (1) so as to increase the displacement of this turntable (11) rearwardly upon an increase of said angle and conversely. 23. A load carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that said connecting means (6, 7) are arranged displaceable with respect to the frame (2) in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier (1).

Inventors: BERGLING TOMAS, BERGLING, TOMAS
Applicants: BERGLING TOMAS, BERGLING, TOMAS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B62D55
IPC codes: B62D53