Patent GB-750850-A (GB)
Title: An improved trailer
IPC: B62D53/06
Filed: 1954-03-12
Abstract: 750,850. Turnable fore-carriages; vehicle underframes; arrangement of wheels and axles; vehicle rest bars; vehicle couplings. VAGN AKTIEBOLAGET, L. March 12, 1954 [March 14, 1953], No. 7223/54. Classes 103 (5) and 108 (2). Relates to a trailer which may be used as a single-axle trailer or sled or a two-axle trailer and which is provided with a cylindrical frame tube on which are mounted two axle brackets provided with means for the attachment thereto of detachable transverse or longitudinal rails carrying a platform or the like and the front one of which is provided with devices for the attachment thereto of detachable pivotable axles for the front wheels and a towing bar swingably connected to the front axle-bracket and, by linkage, acting on steering means connected to the wheel axles. According to the invention one axle bracket is rigidly fastened to the frame tube, while the other axle bracket is so arranged that it can turn around the latter and is provided with means enabling it, if so desired, to be rigidly secured to the frame tube, parallel to the rigidly fastened bracket, the front end of the frame tube, which projects beyond the front axle bracket being at the same time arranged to form a cylindrical fastening sleeve on a loose supporting and towing bar which is intended to be rigidly secured thereto when the trailer is to be used as a single-axled trailer or sled. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, in which a pair of axle brackets 3, 4 each carrying a supporting sleeve 5, are attached to a tubular frame member 2, the rear bracket 4 is attached to the member 2 in adjusted position by a pin engaging corresponding holes in the member 2 and in the sleeve 5, while the bracket 3 is retained on the member 2 by a ring 29 and a removable ring 30, Fig. 6, such as to permit rotation of the sleeve 5 about the frame member 2. When the trailer is to be used as a single axle vehicle, the ring 30 is replaced by a sleeve 32, Fig. 1, to which a supporting and towing bar 33 is attached. Projections 34 on the sleeve 32 engage notches in the forward end of the sleeve 5 or in fastening devices 35 attached thereto. The towing bar 33 is provided with an adjustable coupling consisting of a pair of parallel plates 47, Fig. 13, having pivoted thereto a sleeve 51 which carries a coupling 56 of known type. The rear end of sleeve 51 carries a flange 53 which is engaged by a bolt 54 located between flanges 49, 50 on the plates 47, whereby the angle of the coupling may be adjusted by rotating bolt 54. In another arrangement, the front axle bracket sleeve is non-rotatably secured to member 2 while the rear axle sleeve is mounted for rotation about the member 2 when the trailer is used as a twoaxle vehicle. In a further arrangement, the front axle bracket is welded directly to the member 2. The axle brackets 3, 4 are provided with sleeves 6, 11, Fig. 6, the lower ends of which house a compression spring 48, Fig. 12, for supporting transverse or longitudinal supporting rails for a platform. The front sleeves 6 are each provided with a steering spindle 20 which is retained by a locking-pin 46 and which is rotatable in a bearing 22, 25. The lower end of the spindle 20 carries an axle holder 19 and steering means (not shown).