Patent Publication Number: US-2020299914-A1

Title: Sandbag filling device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for use in filling sand bags. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sand bags are often used in military situations or in flooding situations to provide a structurally stable embankment formed from readily available materials. 
     In most cases of use of sand bags the locating of the sand bags is generally of a temporary nature but requires to be implemented relatively quickly. Thus in the military situation the embankment formed from the sandbags is provided for protection of personnel and equipment and must therefore be quickly deployed so that the personnel and equipment are not left exposed. In the flooding or water control situation, again it is often desirable to deploy the sandbags very quickly since flooding can arise and subside within a few hours. 
     One technique generally used in the field for filling of sandbags is a very crude system based upon manual labor using simply shovels and the manual support of the bag so that one person shovels while a second person holds the mouth of the bag open. This is of course very slow and tedious process and thus involves the second person holding the bag open for an extended period of time which is of course tiring. 
     Machines have been proposed for use in filling sandbags. 
     The old U.S. Pat. No. 121529 (Lum) from 1871 simply discloses a funnel system and stand which assist in supporting a bag for filling but do not significantly increase the speed of filling or the efficiency of the operation so that sand bags can be filled and located much more quickly. 
     The very similar U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,552,346 (Garden) and 4,044,921 (Caverly) disclose sand bag filling systems in which sand is supplied on a hopper of a truck and is discharged from the rear of the truck into a single bag which is positioned at the required location for receiving the sand. In both cases the rate of filling bags is very slow since only a single bag at a time can be filled and then must be moved away from the filling location before a second bag can be filled. This provides a very slow operation which is unlikely to provide bags at a sufficient rate for an emergency situation even when large numbers of persons are available for manual labor. 
     The patent of Garden requires manual operation of a filling valve and this is of course disadvantageous in that the operator must remove one hand from the bag to operate the valve with the danger of spilling. 
     The patent of Caverly discloses an arrangement which is relatively complex including a conveyor and filling control system. The device is therefore relatively expensive and is dedicated solely to the purpose of filling bags. It cannot operate at the very high rate required for emergency use and hence is of little value in such a situation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,463,085 (Byberg) discloses a bagging system for harvested crops in which the crops are discharged into a hopper and each bag in turn moved by a carrying chain system from a bag attachment station, through a filling station to a discharge position. The unit is mounted upon a trailer system so that the unit can be carried across the ground for bagging harvested crops such as onions, potatoes and the like. The system again is relatively slow and does not make efficient use of the large number of persons available in an emergency situation, nor does it fill bags at a rate which would enable the large number of persons available to be efficiently occupied in filling and locating the bags. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,548,222 (Kindseth) discloses a system for filling bags with a powder material such as flour in which bags are moved past filling stations. This system is of little relevance for the rapid filling of sand bags. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one aspect of the present invention, therefore, to provide a sand bag filling apparatus which can be rapidly deployed at a location where sand bags are required and provides rapid filling of bags. 
     According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for filling sand bags comprising: 
     a support structure; 
     a distribution head mounted on the support structure; 
     a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout; 
     the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor; 
     each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth; 
     each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder; 
     the support structure including a post carrying the distribution head at its top that is arranged to stand upwardly from a base of the support structure; 
     the post being formed by a top post portion at or proximate a first end of the post supporting the distribution head, a bottom post portion at or proximate a second end of the post carried on the base of the support structure, and an intermediate post portion operatively coupled between the top and the bottom post portion such that each of the top, the bottom, and the intermediate post portion is pivotally movable to the next; 
     the intermediate post portion being sized to form a shorter length of the upstanding post than the top post portion; 
     the intermediate post portion being pivotally hinged to each of the top post portion and the bottom post portion on a diametrically opposite side of the post such that upon pivoting the top post portion from an upstanding orientation towards a substantially horizontal orientation the intermediate post portion is pivotally displaced in an outwardly opposite direction from the top portion thereby bringing a bottom of the top post portion over a top of the bottom post portion in a folded condition of the post. 
     In one arrangement the intermediate post portion comprises first and second portions operatively coupled so as to collectively form the length of the intermediate post portion. As such, the first and second portions are arranged end to end in an operating condition of the post in which all of the post portions are in vertical alignment. 
     Preferably the first and second portions are pivotally hinged to one another on a common side to a hinge location whereat the intermediate post portion is pivotally hinged to the top post portion so that in the folded condition of the post the first and second portions vertically stack out of vertical alignment with the bottom post portion and said hinge location is located below a topmost end of the intermediate post portion in the folded condition of the post. 
     The first and second portions may be sized to form substantially equal portions of the length of the intermediate post portion. 
     In one arrangement the first and second portions each are sized substantially the same to one another in height along the length of the intermediate post portion and in width. 
     Preferably there is provided an actuator operatively coupled between the top post portion and the bottom post portion on that side of the post where the top and intermediate post portions are pivotally hinged for displacing the post portions in folding movement of the post. 
     Preferably the discharge spouts are connected to the distribution head by readily releasable couplings. 
     Preferably there are provided a prescribed number of discharge spouts which lies in a range from  18  to  24 . Typically this prescribed number is  18  or  24 . 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for filling sand bags comprising: 
     a support structure; 
     a distribution head mounted on the support structure; 
     a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout; 
     the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor; 
     each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth; 
     each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder; 
     wherein the discharge spouts are connected to the distribution head by readily releasable couplings. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for filling sand bags comprising: 
     a support structure; 
     a distribution head mounted on the support structure; 
     a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout; 
     the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor; 
     each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth; 
     each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder; 
     wherein there are provided a prescribed number of discharge spouts which lies in a range from 18 to 24. 
     In one arrangement the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 18. 
     In another arrangement the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 24. 
     In one arrangement the support structure comprises a trailer including a frame and a hitch for attaching to a towing vehicle. 
     The hitch may be pivotally coupled to the frame so as to be pivotally movable about a transverse axis of the trailer from a towing position in which the hitch extends from the frame along a longitudinal direction of the trailer for towing to a stowed position in which the hitch extends from the frame substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the trailer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an apparatus according to the present invention with a number of the filling spouts omitted for convenience of illustration. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the feed conveyor omitted and with the hitch in a towing position for transportation of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the lines  3 - 3  on an enlarged scale showing the details on the distribution head. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the post in a folded condition. 
         FIG. 5  is a view like that shown in  FIG. 3  but of another arrangement of the distribution head. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  each are a schematic plan view of another arrangement of distribution head arranged for 18 and 24 discharge spouts, respectively. Some components are omitted for clarity of illustration. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view of another arrangement of the post shown in a vertically aligned condition. 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational view of the post arrangement of  FIG. 8  shown in a folded condition. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a distribution apparatus generally indicated at  10  for distributing sand carried upon a feed conveyor  11  to a plurality of sand bags one of which is indicated at 12. 
     The apparatus  10  comprises a trailer  13  having a horizontal upper platform  14 , a frame  15  mounted on ground wheels  16  by which the trailer can be moved from place to place for assembly and use of the apparatus. As shown in  FIG. 1  the trailer is in fixed position in which depending legs  17  are positioned at respective corners so as to locate the platform  14  in a fixed position. The legs are shown schematically but are of a type which can be raised for transportation and lowered for stability in fixed position. 
     In  FIG. 2  a hitch  18  is shown with a hitch member  19  for attachment to a suitable towing vehicle. The hitch  18  can be fastened in suitable manner to the frame  15  for towing of the trailer when required. 
     On top of the trailer is mounted a vertical post  20  which extends from the trailer to a distribution head  21  at a height of approximately 10 to 12 feet above the ground. The post  20  is formed from a square tubular member fastened at its lower end to the platform  14  and fastened at its upper end to a horizontal top plate  22  of the distribution head  21 . The post is formed in two portions separated at an abutment line  23  allowing an upper part of the post to be pivoted away from the abutment line through 180° to lie alongside the lower part of the post. For this purpose the lower part of the post includes an outstanding flange  24  which carries a pivot pin  25  on which is mounted a pair of ears  26  carried by the upper part of the post to allow pivotal movement of the upper part about the pin  25 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the top plate  22  of the distribution head  21  is circular and extends outwardly from the post  20  to a peripheral edge  27 . An annular plate  28  extends from the peripheral edge  27  outwardly and lies substantially in the horizontal plane of the plate  22 . The annular plate  28  includes an overlapping portion resting on top of the plate  22  and attached thereto by bolts  29  passing through the two plates and accessible on the underside of the plate  22 . 
     The annular plate carries at its outer periphery an upstanding rim  30  which surrounds the plate  28  and forms therewith a receptacle for the sand to be distributed. The rim  30  is tapered slightly outwardly so as to converge any sand falling on the rim inwardly toward the plate  28 . 
     The plate  28  includes a plurality of circular holes  31  arranged at angularly spaced positions around the periphery of the plate  28 . The holes have centres lying on a common circle surrounding a centre of the plate  28 . The holes are dimensioned so that side edges of the holes are substantially in contact or spaced by a narrow band of material of the plate  28  between each hole and the next adjacent hole. 
     On the underside of the plate  28  is welded a plurality of funnels  32  each having a mouth  33  directly surrounding an underside of a respective one of the holes  31 . Each of the funnels  32  has a longitudinal axis inclined outwardly and downwardly from the underside of the plate  28 . Each of the funnels tapers gradually from the mouth  33  to a discharge opening  34  at a lower end of the funnel. 
     In one practical example there may be  12  such holes  31  having a diameter of the order of eight to ten inches and positioned on a circle of the order of two and a half feet surrounding the centre of the post. 
     Each of the funnels  32  is attached to a filling spout  35  which has an upper end  36  just surrounding the mouth  34  of the spout  32 . The filling spout  35  is supported upon the spout  32  by a bracket  36  including a right angle bracket portion  37  attached to an upwardly facing part of the wall of the spout  35  together with a pair of flanges  38  mounted on the spout  32  at a position aligned with the angle bracket. A pin  39  is attached to the flanges  38  by a transverse pin  40  allowing the pin  39  to pivot upwardly and downwardly. The angle bracket  37  is forked in the flange portion thereof extending outwardly from the wall of the spout  35  so that the pin  39  can be pushed into a slot in the flange and held in place by a nut  41  threaded onto a threaded part of the pin  39 . 
     The spout  35  is thus mounted upon the spout portion  32  and is held in place by the engagement between the mouth  35 A and the discharge opening  34  and by the bracket  36 . A support strut  36 A extends from the platform  14  of the trailer to a clamp  36 B on the spout  35  at a position closer to the discharge end to assist in providing effective support. The filling spout  35  can thus be readily removed by disconnecting bracket  36  and strut  36 A so that the whole apparatus can be rapidly disassembled as required for transportation. 
     The filling spouts  35  have a longitudinal axis following substantially the outwardly and downwardly axis of the sport portion  32 . Thus as best shown in  FIG. 2 , the filling spouts  35  extend radially outwardly from the centre of the post and are inclined downwardly to a circle at a lower end of the filling spouts surrounding the platform  14  of the trailer. With the hitch  18  removed as shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower end of each of the filling spouts is readily accessible by a person approaching the apparatus from outside the trailer  13  so that a person can walk readily to a selected one of the lower ends of the discharge spouts for access thereto for filling of a sandbag  12 . 
     At the lower end of each of the discharge spouts, there is provided a shallow bend portion  43  defining a vertical section  44  through which the sand is discharged vertically downwardly after sliding longitudinally of the filling spout  35 . The angle of the filling spout is arranged such that the material can by gravity from the discharge spout  32  downwardly to the vertical portion  44  for discharge into the sandbag. There are no valves nor other closures within the discharge spout  35  from its upper end  35  communicating with the respective hole  31  to the lower discharge end  44 . 
     Within the post  20  is mounted a drive shaft  45  which extends vertically along the post from a lower drive gear box  46  to an upper end  47  above the plate  22  and passing through a bearing  48  attached to the plate  22 . The gear box  46  is driven by a shaft  49  passing through a hole in the wall of the post to a pulley  50  cooperating with a Y belt  51  driven by a smaller pulley  52  attached to a motor  53 . The motor is mounted on one side of the lower part of the post. The pulley  50  and the gear box  46  are mounted on the upper part of the post so that the shaft is carried wholly by the upper part and does not affect the pivotal action of the upper part relative to the lower part. 
     The upper end  47  of the drive shaft  45  is attached to a rotating distribution member  55  by a pin  55 A attached to the member  55  and extending downwardly therefrom into releasable engagement with a splined opening in the top of the drive shaft  47 . The distribution member rides on a fixed conical plate  56  which covers the upper surface of the plate  22  and the inner part of the plate  28  and is welded thereto to terminate adjacent the inside edge of the holes  31 . The distribution member  55  comprises a chute portion  58  defined by an inclined rear wall  59  and two side walls  61  and  62 . The chute defines an upper open rectangular mouth into which material can be discharged. The chute tapers inwardly and downwardly as best shown in  FIG. 2  to a square open base  60  through which the material can be discharged. The base  60  is dimensioned to be approximately equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of one of the holes  31 . 
     In operation a conventional conveyor  11  is operated to transport sand upwardly from a supply at the lower end in a metered amount to an upper discharge section  11 A from which the material can be discharged downwardly onto the distribution apparatus. The details of the conveyor  11  are shown only schematically as these will be well known to one skilled in the art as this type of machine is readily available on a commercial basis. The rate of supply of the material is metered by a suitable gate system and by the speed of movement of the belt section of the conveyor so that the material is discharged from the upper section  11 A at a predetermined weight per unit time. 
     The distribution member  55  is rotated by the shaft  45  relative to the receptacle  21  so that the sand material discharged from the upper part  11 A of the conveyor falls into the chute and is guided to a respective one of the holes  31  for transportation through the associated filling spout to an opening at the lower end of that filling spout. The apparatus is serviced by a number of emergency personnel who carry an empty sand bag to each in turn of the filling spouts and time their positioning of an empty bag so that as the material is discharged into the respective filling spout, an empty bag is positioned underneath that spout ready to be filled. It will be appreciated that as the distribution member rotates it moves the filling position from each of the filling spouts to the next in turn of the filling spouts angularly spaced around the axis of the post. The rate of rotation is selected relative to the predetermined rate of delivery so that enough sand is supplied to the filling spout to fill the sand bag before the distribution member moves to the next of the filling spouts. Each bag is thus filled at the respective filling spout giving time for the person assigned to that spout to tie off the bag when filled and remove the bag to a use location and to return to that spout with an empty bag before the filling spout is again supplied with the sand by the distribution member. 
     Each person moving to a filling spout therefore simply has the responsibility to receive the sand and to remove the bag when filled. There is no valve assembly to operate to close off the supply of sand so that both hands of the user are available for grasping and handling the sand bag. The height of the vertical portion  44  is arranged so that it is just sufficient to receive an empty bag thereunder while the bag rests upon a suitable support surface  10 A which may be the ground, a fixed board or a narrow conveyor. The apparatus thus can be used to fill bags very rapidly using the large number of emergency personnel available during an emergency situation such as a military action or threatened flooding. The apparatus is very simply and can be dismantled and moved from place to place so that it is readily available for immediate use in the location where the sand bags are to be located. 
     There is disclosed herein an apparatus for filling sand bags comprising a support structure, a distribution head mounted on the support structure, a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout, the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor, each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough by gravity from the distribution head to the discharge mouth, each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder, and distribution means at the distribution head movable to cause a predetermined quantity of the sand supplied to the distribution head to be supplied to each in turn of the spouts and then to close off further supply to said each in turn of the spouts. 
     Additionally there is disclosed herein a method of filling sand bags comprising providing a plurality of separate filling spouts, supplying sand from a conveyor to a distribution head, moving a distribution member at the distribution head to cause the sand to flow from the conveyor into each in turn of the filling spouts and then to close off further supply of sand to said each in turn of the filling spouts, causing the sand to flow through the filling spout to a discharge mouth of the filling spout by gravity, manually moving bags to be filled such that the discharge mouth of each spout has a bag held thereat at the time that the spout is supplied with sand, locating the height of the discharge mouth from a support surface for the bag such that the bag is on or adjacent the support surface as it is filled, moving the filled bag from the mouth and replacing the filled bag with an empty bag during the time that the sand is closed off from that filling spout. 
     There is also disclosed herein an apparatus for filling sand bags comprising a support structure mounted upon a vehicle having ground wheels for transportation of the support structure from site to site, the support structure comprising a tower extending vertically upwardly from the vehicle, a distribution head mounted at the top of the tower, a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from an open end at the distribution head downwardly and outwardly to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout, the distribution head being mounted on the tower at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand discharged downwardly from a conveyor for filling into bags, each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough by gravity from the distribution head to the discharge mouth, each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder, and distribution means at the distribution head movable to cause a predetermined quantity of the sand supplied to the distribution head to be supplied to each in turn of the spouts and then to close off further supply to said each in turn of the spouts the open ends of the discharge spouts being arranged at a base plate of the distribution head as a circle and the distribution means being rotatable about a vertical axis passing through the center of the circle. 
     Each of the discharge spouts is continually open from the distribution head to the discharge mouth so that the flow of sand therethrough is controlled only by the distribution head. 
     The support structure is mounted upon a vehicle having ground wheels for transportation of the support structure from site to site. the support structure comprises a central mast around which the discharge spouts are arranged. 
     There is provided a drive motor and a drive shaft extending vertically upwardly along the central mast from the drive motor to the distribution means at the distribution head at the top of the mast. 
     The distribution head includes a portion of each discharge spout attached thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, a remaining portion of each discharge spout being readily removable from and attachable to the first portion. 
     The mast includes an upper portion and a lower portion and hinge means therebetween allowing the upper portion of the mast to be folded downwardly relative to the lower portion. 
     As shown more clearly in  FIG. 4  another arrangement of post indicated at  20 ′ may be formed in three portions: a top post portion  71  defining a first top end  20 A of the post supporting the distribution head  21  (and thus at the first post end), a bottom post portion  73  defining a second bottom end  20 B of the post carried on the base of the support structure (and therefore at the second post end), and an intermediate post portion  75  operatively coupled between the top and the bottom post portion such that each of the top, the bottom, and the intermediate post portion is pivotally movable to the next. In other words, the intermediate post portion operatively links together the top and bottom post portions. 
     The intermediate post portion  75  is sized to form a shorter length or, in other words, a smaller portion of an overall length of the upstanding post than the top post portion  71 . For example the intermediate portion may form 6″ of the length of the post. Typically the intermediate portion is also shorter in length than the bottom post portion  73 . 
     The intermediate post portion is pivotally hinged by a pin and hole arrangement located on the exterior of the post tubular structure to each of the top post portion and the bottom post portion at  77  and  78 . The hinges  77 .  78  formed by the pin and hole arrangement are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the post, and at opposite ends (lengthwise) of the intermediate portion. As such, upon pivoting the top post portion from an upstanding orientation as for example shown in  FIG. 1  towards a substantially horizontal orientation as shown in  FIG. 4  the intermediate post portion  75  is pivotally displaced in an outwardly opposite direction from the top post portion thereby bringing a bottom of the top portion, which otherwise sits immediately adjacent atop of the intermediate portion in the upstanding orientation, over a top of the bottom post portion in a folded condition of the post where the bottom post portion&#39;s top receives thereon the intermediate post portion  75  in the upstanding orientation (also the operating position) of the post. In the fully folded condition the top post portion may not necessarily be disposed at 90 degrees relative to the bottom post portion. 
     An actuator  80  such as a hydraulic cylinder is operatively coupled between the top post portion  71  and the bottom post portion  73  so as to be connected to each on that side of the post where the top and intermediate post portions are pivotally hinged together at  77 . Each end of the actuator  80  is connected to the respective one of the top and bottom portions at a location  81 ,  82  spaced away from the intermediate portion  75 , that is along the post away from hinge points  77  and  78 . The actuator  80  is operated to displace the post portions in folding movement of the post from the operating condition to the folded condition. The three portions of the post are linked in such a manner that upon operation of the actuator  80  the post portions pivot relative to one another so as to be vertically stacked thereby positioning the distribution head over the trailer forming the base of the apparatus&#39; support structure. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , the filling spouts  35  may be connected at the funnels  32  via readily releasable couplings  83 . In the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 5  the coupling comprises a cooperating hook  84  and rigid loop  85  so that the respective spout can be quickly decoupled from its installed condition communicatively extending from the respective funnel. For example the hook which may be mounted on the spout includes a movable hinged leg  87  that can be displaced from an aligned condition so that the hook can be connected with the rigid loop. In the aligned condition the leg  87  is contiguous with the hook  84  so as to form a closed loop thereby resisting unintentional detachment from the rigid loop  85 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the distribution head may be provided with a larger number of spouts so as that more sand bags may be simultaneously readied for filling with sand. The apparatus is arranged so as to have  18  to  24  spouts. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown another arrangement of post indicated at  20 ″ where an intermediate post portion  75 ″ comprises first and second portions  91  and  92  operatively coupled to one another so as to collectively form the length of the intermediate post portion. That is, the first and second portions  91 ,  92  vertically stack one on top of the other and are arranged end to end with a bottom  91 B of the first portion in abutment with a top  92 A of the second portion in a vertically aligned operating condition of the post as shown more clearly in  FIG. 8 , thereby forming the length of the intermediate post portion in a direction of the length of the post. 
     The first and second portions  91 ,  92  are pivotally hinged to one another at  95  which is on a common side to a hinge location whereat the intermediate post portion  75 ″ is pivotally hinged to the top post portion  71 , that is at  77 . As such, upon movement of the top post portion  71  from its upstanding orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, the first and second portions  91 ,  92  are pivotally displaced and arranged side by side, vertically stacking on one another out of vertical alignment with the bottom post portion  73 . That is, the intermediate post portion  75 ″ folds on itself at hinge or pivotal coupling  95  so that common sides  91 C and  92 C of the first and second portions which span between top and bottom of the respective such portion, and which are on the same side as the pivot  95 , are positioned to face one another in the folded condition of the post. In this manner, the hinge location  77  is located below a topmost end of the intermediate post portion  75 ″, which is defined by side  91 D of the first portion  91 , in the folded condition of the post, thereby bringing the bottom of the top post portion lower and closer towards the trailer in the fully folded condition of the post. 
     In the illustrated arrangement of post  20 ″, the first and second portions  91 ,  92  are sized to form substantially equal portions of the length of the intermediate post portion  75 ″, or in others words each such portion forms half of the length of the intermediate post portion. Furthermore, each one of the first and second portions has a width from one side, like that at  91 C, to the opposite side, like that at  91 D, which is substantially equal to the respective portion&#39;s height from top to bottom, that is for example from  91 A to  91 B. 
     It will also be appreciated that the hitch  18  may be pivotally coupled to the frame by a hinge  98  (schematically shown), for example defined by a pivot pin and held in place by a lock pin-and-hole arrangement, so as to be pivotally movable about a transverse axis of the trailer from a towing position (like that shown in  FIG. 2 ) in which the hitch  18  extends from the frame along a longitudinal direction of the trailer to position the hitch member  19  in a suitable position for towing. The hitch may then be pivoted to a stowed position in which the hitch extends from the frame substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the trailer, for example in a downward direction out of the plane of the trailer, so as position the hitch  18  with hitch member where the discharge of the filling spout will be unobstructed thereby. 
     Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.