The invention relates to frame assemblies on which can be fitted onto a vehicle.
Utility vehicles (Utes), pick-up trucks, dumpers, lorries and small trucks are generally used to transport goods that cannot fit into conventional sized cars such as sedans and hatchbacks. To transport these goods, utes and the like have a load receiving body such as an open tray. The tray is used as a platform to receive and support goods when the vehicle is driven between locations.
Natural material such as soil is commonly moved between locations for landscaping or building construction activities. Utes and trucks are often used to transport soil. Soil may be introduced into the tray of a ute or a truck by a silo or dumping mean positioned above the tray. However, it is often difficult to remove goods such as soil from the tray of a vehicle.
Removing the soil from the tray of a vehicle usually requires a user to stand on a short ladder or to jump into the tray. The soil is then shoveled off manually. This practice is generally unsafe, time consuming and labour intensive.
Additionally, equipment such as bikes, trolleys, and wheeled items are difficult to place and remove from a vehicle tray without access to lifting equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an assembly to be mounted on a vehicle to support a load receiving body on the vehicle, the vehicle having a forward direction of travel with the load receiving body being tiltable, the assembly including:
Preferably, the longitudinal axis is generally parallel to the forward direction of travel.
Preferably, the longitudinal axis is generally transverse to the forward direction of travel.
Preferably, the primary frame further includes a slidable cross member in which the portion is attached.
Preferably, the slidable cross member travels parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the primary frame and the secondary frame each comprise two or more elongate members and a plurality of cross members.
Preferably, the cross members are spaced from each other and are situated between the elongate members.
Preferably, the plurality of cross members and elongate members of the primary and secondary frame are connected by couplings.
In a second aspect the present invention provides an assembly to be mounted on a vehicle to support a load receiving body on the vehicle, the vehicle having a forward direction of travel with the load receiving body being tiltable, the assembly including:
Preferably, the first catch portion includes a surface attached to the hinge and the second catch portion includes a projection located above the surface such that when the second frame is in the locked position the surface abuts the projection.
Preferably, the first catch portion is a plate attached to the assembly.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides fastener assembly including:
Preferably, the notch is at a junction of the threaded portion and a non-threaded portion of the shaft.
Preferably, the enlarged portion is completely enclosed by the tubular portion.
Preferably, the enlarged portion has a tapered portion to engage the sleeve during rotation of the nut.
In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a fastener assembly including:
Preferably, the nut has a tapered portion to engage the sleeve during rotation of the bolt.
In a fifth aspect the present invention provides an assembly to be mounted on a vehicle to support a load receiving body on the vehicle, the vehicle having a forward direction of travel with the load receiving body being tiltable, the assembly including:
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will not be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated an assembly 100 to be mounted on a vehicle. The assembly 100 is to support a load receiving body on the vehicle. The vehicle having a forward direction of travel defined by longitudinal direction X and the load receiving body being tiltable by the assembly 100 in the generally transverse direction Y relative to the longitudinal direction X. The assembly 100 includes a primary frame 110 to be attached to the vehicle. A secondary frame 120 extends between the primary frame 110 and the load receiving body.
The assembly 100 also includes a hinge assembly 170a, 170b comprising a two end couplings 232, pin 210 and hinge 160 for pivoting the secondary frame 120 about the transverse axis Y between a lowered position and a raised position. The hinge 160 is located at the rear of the primary frame 110 along the longitudinal direction X. The lowered position is defined when the secondary frame 120 is parallel and adjacent to the primary frame 110. The assembly 100 is in the raised position when the secondary frame 120 extends upwardly at an acute angle θ1, 02 to the primary frame 110 from the longitudinal direction X.
A first actuator 161 extends and retracts between the primary frame 110 and the secondary frame 120 in the longitudinal direction X. The first actuator 161 provides enough force to pivot the secondary frame 120 to the raised position on the hinge. A second actuator 162 may also be utilised to further pivot the secondary frame 120. The second actuator 162 is configured to extend in the primary frame 110 along the longitudinal direction X.
As shown in
The secondary frame 120 includes three cross members 141, 142, 143 which are all fixed relative to each other. The first actuator 161 is hingedly mounted between the second cross member 145 of the primary frame 110 and the cross member 142 of the secondary frame 120.
The elongate members 130 and the cross members of both the primary and secondary frame 110, 120 are assembled together by couplings 154. Couplings 154 comprise first tubular portion 158 welded to second tubular portion 159. The first tubular portion 158 is a sleeve for receiving elongate member 130 throughout its length. The second tubular portion 159 telescopically extends transversely from the first tubular portion to telescopically receive end portions of cross members 141, 142, 143, 144. The couplings 154 may receive different shapes and sizes of elongate members 130 and cross members 141, 142, 143, 144. They may be tubular or solid and be of different cross sections such as square, rectangular or circular.
The elongate members 130 and cross members 141, 142, 144 may be fastened to the couplings 154 to secure the members, 142, 144 in place and stabilise the assembly 100. Actuator mounts 153 are located at cross members 142, 144 of the primary and secondary frames 110, 120 to support the first and/or second actuators 161, 162. Dual actuator mount 152 is located on the second cross member 145. Dual mount 152 accommodates both the first and second actuators 161 and 162.
The secondary frame 120 may be raised to wider acute angles θ1, θ2 by the extension of second actuator 162. The second actuator 162 when extended as shown in
The assembly may be mounted to a truck 900 as shown in
In use, a load receiving body is attached to the assembly at the secondary frame 120 for a load to be received on the load receiving body embodied as a tray. To assist placing the load on the tray, the secondary frame 120 may be pivoted to the raised position. Once the load is secured on the tray the secondary frame 120 is then pivoted to the lowered position. The load secured on the tray may be easily removed through moving the tray back into the raised position.
Advantageously, the described embodiment provides an easier way to remove loads such as soil or sand on a tray attached to the assembly 100. This is done by pivoting the secondary frame 120 into the raised position in which the soil or sand will slide off. Accordingly, a user is not required to use equipment such as a ladder or stepping device to access the tray. This eliminates the risk of falling from a ladder or stepping device as there is no need to use said equipment.
Throughout the description corresponding features in different embodiments have been given the same reference numerals.
The invention further discloses a locking mechanism that can be used to lock the hinge of any one of the assemblies 100, 101, 102 described above to prevent pivoting of the secondary frame 120.
The catch member 205 engages with the flat surface of the catch formation 200 positioned below the catch member 205 when the secondary frame 120 is in the locked position, locking the frame 120 from pivoting at the hinge 160 as shown in
Moving the secondary frame 120 to the locked position once lowered is automated by the movement of one or more of the actuators 161, 162. Hinge 160 provides slot 211 to enable movement of the secondary frame in the longitudinal direction X. The second actuator 162 may retract the secondary frame 120 such that the frame 120 is placed in the locked position when in the lowered position. Alternatively, the secondary frame 120 may be placed in the locked position by the retraction of first actuator 161 for use in assemblies 101, 102.
The pin 210 is installed through the hinge 160 by passing through slot 211 and primary frame 110.
A catch plate 350 may also be provided between the primary and secondary frame 110, 120. As shown in
The catch plate 350 as shown in
The catch plate 350 and catch member 205 therefore provide another lock to prevent the secondary frame 120 from pivoting at the hinge 160. Both locking mechanisms may be used in unison or in isolation.
When using the assembly 100, 101, 102 the catch plate 350 can be removed from the assembly 100, 101, 102 if a secondary lock is not required.
The fastening means 300 includes a shaft 312. The shaft 312 has an end extremity 309 and an enlarged portion 308 spaced away from the end extremity 309. The enlarged portion 308 may have a tapered portion 330. The shaft 312 also has a threaded length 306 located adjacent the end extremity 309, but spaced from the enlarged portion 308. Furthermore, the shaft 312 includes an annular notch 307. The notch 307 is spaced from the enlarged portion 308 so at least a part of the threaded length 306 is located between the notch 307 and the end extremity 309.
The fastening means 300 also provides a sleeve 303 and a first nut 302. The sleeve 303 has a through passage X in which the shaft 312 can extend. The sleeve 303 includes a tubular portion 304 and a flange portion 305. The tubular portion 304 may have a leading internal chamfer on the end away from the flange portion. The flange portion 305 extends transversely from the tubular portion 304. The first nut 302 is threadably engagable to the threaded length 306.
In use, the shaft 312 is introduced to the sleeve 303 as shown in
The first nut 302 is then threadably received on the threaded length 306 of the shaft 312 until it abuts flange portion 305. The sleeve 303 is then held from rotation by such means as a spanner 314 engaging the flange portion 305. Inhibiting rotation of the sleeve 303 and rotating the first nut 302 on the threaded portion 306 causes the enlarged portion 308 to move longitudinally into the tubular portion 304 of the sleeve 303 as the sleeve 303 plastically deforms to accommodate the enlarged portion 308. Once sufficient stress is applied to the shaft 312 through rotation of the first nut 302, the shaft 312 fractures at the notch 307 as shown in
The bodies 316, 318 are held in mechanical securement by the upward pressure of the enlarged portion 308 of the shaft 312 and the reaction pressure the flange portion 305 exerts on the bodies 316, 318. The fastening means 300 therefore provides a strong mechanical bond between the two bodies 316, 318 that may be used in a variety of applications.
The disclosure further provides a fastening means 301. The fastening means comprises a bolt 313 with a bolt head 317, a sleeve 303 with a flange 305 and tubular portion 304, and tapered nut 390 with a tapered portion 330 as shown in
In use, the bolt 313 is first introduced and held in the sleeve 303. The tapered nut 390 is then threadably received onto the bolt 313 until the tapered portion 330 of the tapered nut 390 abuts the tubular portion 304 of the sleeve 303. The sleeve 303 is therefore secured between the bolt head 317 and tapered nut 390.
The tapered nut 390 and tubular portion 304 is then moved through a through hole H in a first body 318 and a second body 316 to fasten these two bodies 316, 318 together. The tapered nut 390 must completely pas through the through holes H as shown in
The sleeve 303 is then prevented from rotation by means such as a spanner 314 engaging the flange 305. The bolt 313 is then driven in a direction in which the tapered nut 390 will longitudinal move into the tubular portion 304 to cause plastic deformation of the sleeve 303. The tapered nut 390 is therefore frictionally engaged between the tubular portion 304.
The bodies 316, 318 are held in mechanical securement by the upward pressure of the tapered nut 390 and the reaction pressure of the bolt head 317 on the bodies 316, 318. The tapered portion 330 assists the movement of the tapered nut 390 into the tubular portion 304. The fastening means 301 is similar to the fastening means 300 in that they both provide a strong mechanical bond between bodies. The fastening means 300, 301 may be used in a variety of applications.
The assemblies 100, 101, 102 are modular in nature and can be assembled at the site of a user or in a factory before sale. Sizing of elongate members and cross members to different vehicles allow the invention to be widely used. A user may be informed of coupling and actuator mount dimensions and then purchase members that will correctly engage the couplings and mount.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/AU2020/051159 | 10/28/2020 | WO |