STORAGE CONTAINER FOR A TRAILER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for transport and storage of excavator attachments. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a container for securing excavator attachments on a trailer. A container for retaining an excavator attachment on a trailer comprises a lower portion including a base, a pair of opposing end walls, and a front wall; a lid connected to the lower portion and arranged to pivot between a first position, in which the container may receive an excavator attachment, and a second position, in which the excavator attachment is retained by the container; and a coupling configured to secure the container to a trailer such that the end walls of the lower portion are adjacent side walls of the trailer and the front wall of the lower portion is adjacent a front wall of the trailer, wherein a depth of the lid, in a direction perpendicular to the base of the container, is greater than a depth of the lower portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for transport and storage of excavator attachments. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a container for securing excavator attachments on a trailer.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Hydraulic excavators may be equipped with a number of different attachments or tools, such as buckets, breakers, rippers, augers and the like. Typically, excavators are transported by trailer, whilst any attachments may be transported by trailer also, or transported separately by another vehicle. Often heavy and expensive, excavator attachments may cause damage if improperly secured in transit, and may be vulnerable to theft. Accordingly, attachments may be secured to a trailer using tie-down straps or similar, or users may transport attachments inside another vehicle, such as a van. Securing attachments in this way to trailers may be time consuming and vulnerable to human error, whilst loading attachments into a van may be impractical or unsafe for larger attachments. Additionally, it may be necessary to move attachments from a trailer or van to a more secure storage location after transport.

Some of these issues have been addressed in part by trailers equipped with features for securing attachments. These trailers may have an integrated cage or locker for receiving attachments, such that attachments can be enclosed and locked in place on the trailer.

The present invention provides further improvements in transporting excavators and excavator attachments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention provides a container for retaining an excavator attachment on a trailer, the container comprising:

• • a lower portion including a base, a pair of opposing end walls, and a front wall;
  • a lid connected to the lower portion and arranged to pivot between a first position, in which the container may receive an excavator attachment, and a second position, in which the excavator attachment is retained by the container; and
  • a coupling configured to secure the container to a trailer such that the end walls of the lower portion are adjacent side walls of the trailer and the front wall of the lower portion is adjacent a front wall of the trailer,
  • wherein a depth of the lid, in a direction perpendicular to the base of the container, is greater than a depth of the lower portion.

Preferably the depth of the lid is more than twice the depth of the lower portion.

In preferred embodiments the coupling comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion. The coupling may further comprise a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion. Preferably the lid is connected to the lower portion by a hinge and a part of the hinge is attached to the flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion. In some embodiments the hinge comprises a hinge plate that extends from the flange so as to define a channel within which a wall of the trailer may be received to secure the container to the trailer.

The lid may further comprise an arm hitch for coupling to an excavator arm, such that the container can be lifted onto or away from the trailer by an excavator arm. Preferably the arm hitch is releasably attached to the lid. The arm hitch may comprise a base plate including engagement features configured to secure the arm hitch to the lid. The engagement features preferably comprise channels within which bars of the lid are seated to secure the arm hitch to the lid.

In preferred embodiments the lid and the base comprise cooperating features configured to engage with each other such that the cooperating feature of the lid of a first container may be engaged with the cooperating feature of the base of a second container to retain the first and second containers in a stacked configuration. The cooperating features may comprise a projection and an aperture. Preferably the projection comprises a rail member.

A second aspect of the invention provides a trailer for transporting an item of plant machinery, the trailer comprising:

• • a platform including a floor for supporting the item of plant machinery, a front end wall and two side walls; and
  • a container according to the first aspect of the invention, the container being secured to the trailer by the coupling such that the end walls of the lower portion of the container are adjacent the side walls of the platform and the front wall of the container is adjacent the front end wall of the platform.

Preferably a top edge of each of the end walls and the front wall of the lower portion of the container lie in substantially the same plane as top edges of the front end wall and the side walls of the platform.

The coupling preferably comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion that is engaged with the front end wall of the platform and the coupling comprises a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion, each end wall flange being engaged with a respective one of the side walls of the platform.

A third aspect of the invention provides a combination of a trailer according to the second aspect of the invention and an item of plant machinery seated on the floor of the trailer, wherein the lid of the container comprises an arm hitch, and an arm of the item of plant machinery is secured to the arm hitch.

The arm hitch preferably comprises a retainer bar and the arm of the item of plant machinery is preferably secured to the retainer bar by a quick release coupling on the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a trailer including a storage cage according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the storage cage of FIG. 1 disposed on a trailer and in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the storage cage of FIG. 1 disposed on a trailer and in an open configuration;

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view of the storage cage of FIG. 3 in the open configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage cage according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view from a front of the storage cage of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view from an end of the storage cage of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pair of storage cages as shown in FIG. 5 and in a stacked configuration;

FIG. 9 is a plan view from a front of the stacked configuration of storage cages of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view from an end of the stacked configuration of storage cages of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a trailer 10 including a storage container 50 according to the present invention. The trailer 10 is designed to safely transport an excavator or similar plant machinery, together with associated equipment and attachments such as buckets, breakers and the like. The excavator will typically be a compact excavator or mini excavator, having a weight of less than about 8.5 tonnes (otherwise referred to as a digger excavator or mini digger).

As shown in FIG. 1, the trailer 10 comprises a generally rectangular platform or bed 14 including a floor 16, a front end wall 18 and two side walls 20. A front end 22 of the trailer 10 includes a hitch for coupling the trailer 10 to a driven vehicle, such as a car or van. A rear end 24 of the trailer 10 comprises a tailgate or ramp 26. In this embodiment a first end of the ramp 26 is hingedly attached to a rear edge of the floor 16. When the ramp 26 is in a lowered position, as illustrated, a second end of the ramp 26 is in contact with the ground on which the trailer 10 is standing. With the ramp 26 in the lowered position an excavator may be driven onto the trailer 10 by being driven up the ramp 26 and onto the floor 16 of the trailer 10. During transportation the ramp 26 is preferably moved into a raised position in which the second end of the ramp 26 is raised off the ground and the second end of the ramp 26 is disposed substantially vertically above the rear end of the trailer platform 14. In use, when an excavator is seated on the floor 16 of the trailer 10, the ramp 26 is preferably placed into its raised position such that the ramp 26 may provide a stop to limit rearward movement of the excavator on the trailer 10.

The trailer 10 further comprises a securing system 30 for securing the excavator to the trailer 10. In particular, the securing system 30 is configured to restrict forward and upward movement of the excavator relative to the platform 14 of the trailer 10. The securing system 30 may also restrict rearward movement of the excavator relative to the platform 14.

The securing system 30 preferably comprises a retainer 32 configured to engage with a dozer blade of the excavator when the excavator is loaded onto the trailer 10.

In this embodiment the retainer 32 comprises a hook member. The hook member includes an upright post that extends from an upper surface 17 of the floor 16 of the trailer 10, and a projection that extends from an upper end of the post. The projection includes an angled portion so as to define a recess for receiving an upper edge of the dozer blade.

In preferred embodiments the securing system 30 further comprises a pair of keepers 42. Each of the keepers 42 is configured to cover a part of an undercarriage of the excavator when the excavator is seated on the floor 16 of the trailer 10. A first keeper 42 is preferably disposed adjacent the first side wall 20 of the trailer 10, and a second keeper 42 is preferably disposed adjacent the second side wall 20 of the trailer 10. In use, a part of a first track of the excavator (on a first side of the excavator) locates below a part of the first keeper 42 and a part of a second track of the excavator (on a second side of the excavator) locates below a part of the second keeper 42.

The trailer 10 of the illustrated embodiment further comprises a container or storage cage 50, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 to 4. The storage cage 50 is disposed at the front end of the floor 16 of the trailer 10. In this embodiment the storage cage 50 is disposed between the retainer 32 and the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. The storage cage 50 is arranged to receive and retain equipment such as buckets and the like that may be attachable to the plant machinery being transported on the trailer 10.

The storage cage 50 comprises a lower portion including a generally rectangular base 52 and three side walls 53, 54 extending from a respective three edges of the base 52. A flange 55, 56 extends outwardly from a top edge of each of the side walls 53, 54. Two end side walls 53 extend from opposite end edges of the base 52, and a distance between these two end side walls 53 is substantially equal to a distance between internal surfaces of the side walls 20 of the trailer 10. A front side wall 54 extends between the two end side walls 53. A height of each of the side walls 53, 54 is substantially the same as a height of a corresponding one of each of the side walls 20 and the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. In this way, when the storage cage 50 is seated at a front end of the trailer 10, each of the flanges 55, 56 is seated on a respective upper edge of the side walls 20 and front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. In particular, the flanges 55 that project from the two end side walls 53 seat on a top edge of each of the side walls 20 of the trailer 10, and the flange 56 that projects from the front side wall 54 seats on a top edge of the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10.

Each of the base 52 and side walls 53, 54 is preferably formed of a mesh panel or a panel that includes one or more openings. This minimises the weight of the storage cage 50.

The storage cage 50 further comprises a lid 58. In this embodiment the lid 58 is connected to one of the side walls 54 of the storage cage 50 by a hinge 60. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the lid 58 is preferably hingedly connected to the flange 56 of the front side wall 54. In preferred embodiments the hinge 60 or each of the hinges that connect the lower portion of the storage cage 50 to the lid 58 comprises a hinge plate 62 that is fixed to the flange 56 of the front side wall 54. In particular the hinge plate 62 extends from a free edge of the flange 56 so as to define a channel bounded by the hinge plate 62, the flange 56 and the front side wall 54 of the storage cage 50. When the storage cage 50 is seated in a front region of the trailer 10, the top edge of the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10 is preferably received in the channel. In other words the front side wall flange 56 and hinge plate 62 hook over the top edge of the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10 to couple the storage cage 50 to the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. This retains the storage cage 50 in a fixed position on the trailer 10.

The lid 58 comprises a generally rectangular frame 64 from which extends a mesh 66 that forms a concave upper portion of the lid 58. The upper portion of the lid 58 comprises two side wall portions 68, two end wall portions 70 and a top wall portion 72. When the lid 58 is in a closed position the frame 64 is seated on the flanges 55, 56 of the lower portion of the storage cage 50. In particular a side member of the frame 64 seats on the flange 56 of the front side wall 54 and two end members of the frame 64 seat on the flanges 55 of the end side walls 53.

A depth of the lid 58 (in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the frame 64) is preferably greater than a depth of the lower portion of the storage cage 50 (in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the base 52). More preferably the depth of the lid 58 is at least twice the depth of the lower portion.

The lid 58 is arranged to pivot relative to the lower portion between an open position (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) in which equipment, such as an excavator attachment, may be placed into the storage cage 50, and a closed position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the equipment is retained in the storage cage 50. The storage cage 50 preferably includes a locking feature arranged to latch or lock the lid 58 in the closed position.

The storage cage 50 is preferably sized to house a bucket attachment. The storage cage 50 may also house other types of attachment when they are not attached to an arm of the excavator, as well as other equipment.

In the illustrated embodiment the trailer 10 comprises an A-frame 23 between the trailer hitch and the bed 14 of the trailer 10. The trailer 10 further comprises a breaker storage unit 74. The breaker storage unit 74 is seated on a part of the A-frame 23 adjacent the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10.

In this embodiment the breaker storage unit 74 comprises a housing 76 having an opening 78 in a top wall. The opening 78 is sized to receive at least a part of a breaker so that the breaker may be inserted into the housing 76. The housing 76 is preferably configured and sized such that the breaker is held by the housing 76 in an upright orientation relative to the trailer 10. This allows a breaker that is housed in the breaker storage unit 74 to be connected to and disconnected from the arm of the excavator with the excavator on the trailer 10 without requiring the breaker to be manually lifted into a suitable position.

Because the breaker storage unit 74 is disposed adjacent the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10, in this embodiment the lid 58 of the storage cage 50 preferably includes a gap or recess 80 for accommodating a part of the breaker storage unit 74 when the lid 58 is open. In particular, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the lid 58 is in the open position the breaker storage unit 74 is received in the gap 80 in the mesh 66 of the lid 58.

In some circumstances the arm of the excavator does not have an attachment secured to its end. This may be in situations in which a breaker has already been stored in the breaker storage unit 74 and/or a bucket has been stored in the storage cage 50. When an excavator is loaded onto the trailer 10 it is desirable to secure the arm of the excavator to prevent unwanted movement or slew during transportation. In preferred embodiments it is therefore desirable to provide an arm hitch 82 to which an end of the arm of the excavator may be secured.

The arm hitch 82 preferably comprises a pair of support members 84 and a retainer bar 86 that extends between the support members 84. In use, the end of the arm of the excavator is secured to the retainer bar 86. In particular, a quick release coupling on the excavator arm (used for attaching buckets and the like) may be secured to the retainer bar 86.

In this embodiment the arm hitch 82 is disposed forward of the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. In preferred embodiments however the arm hitch may be disposed on or attached to the storage cage.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, in a further embodiment of the storage cage 150, an arm hitch 182 is connected to the lid 158 of the storage cage 150. Many of the features of this embodiment of the storage cage 150 and arm hitch 182 are the same as or similar to features of the first embodiment of the storage cage 50 and arm hitch 82, and like features have been indicated by reference numbers incremented by 100.

The storage cage 150 comprises a lower portion including a generally rectangular base 152 and three side walls 153, 154 extending from a respective three edges of the base 152. Two end side walls 153 extend from opposite end edges of the base 152, and a distance between these two end side walls 153 is substantially equal to a distance between internal surfaces of the side walls 20 of the trailer 10. A front side wall 154 extends between the two end side walls 153. A height of each of the side walls 153, 154 is preferably substantially the same as a height of a corresponding one of each of the side walls 20 and the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10. In this way, the lid 158 of the storage cage 150 may be opened when the storage cage is seated on the trailer 10, without movement of the lid 158 being hampered by the side walls 20 and the front end wall 18 of the trailer 10.

In this embodiment the lid 158 is connected to one of the side walls 154 of the storage cage 150 by a hinge 160. The lid 158 comprises a generally rectangular frame 164 from which extends two end wall portions 170. A plurality of bars 90 extend between the end wall portions 170 to define side wall portions 168 and a top wall portion 172 of the lid 158.

In this embodiment, the arm hitch 182 comprises a base plate 88 to which the support members 184 are connected. The base plate 88 includes engagement features 89 configured to secure the arm hitch 182 to the lid 158 of the storage cage 150. In this embodiment the engagement features 89 comprise channels within which bars 90 of the lid 158 may be seated to secure the arm hitch 182 to the lid 158. The engagement features 89 are preferably configured such that the arm hitch 182 may be releasably secured to the storage cage 150.

With the arm hitch 182 secured to the lid 158 of the storage cage 150, and the storage cage 150 secured to the trailer 10, an arm of an excavator may be attached to the retainer bar 186 of the arm hitch 182 to secure the arm of the excavator to prevent unwanted movement or slew during transportation.

Furthermore, when it is desired to access the contents of the storage cage 150, the arm of the excavator may be used to open and close the lid 158 of the storage cage 150.

Because the storage cages 50, 150 of the present invention comprise both a lower portion, including a base 52, 152, and a lid 58, 158, it will be appreciated that the storage cages 50, 150 may be removed from the trailer 10 whilst still being used to store equipment such as buckets and the like. The attachment of the arm hitch 182 to the storage cage 150 means that an excavator (with its arm secured to the arm hitch 182) may be used to lift the storage cage 150 on and off the trailer 10.

In embodiments in which the storage cage 50, 150 is removable from the trailer 10, it is therefore also desirable for the storage cage 50, 150 to be stackable so as to be able to efficiently and effectively store equipment at a suitable site.

One such stacking arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10. In this embodiment each of the storage cages 150 includes cooperating features 92 that align and engage with features of a neighbouring storage cage 150 to retain the cages 150 in a stacked configuration.

The cooperating features 92 comprise a projection 94 that extends upwardly from the lid 158 of the cage 150 and a recess or aperture 96 in the base 152 of the cage 150. In use, the projection 94 of a first storage cage 150a engages with the recess or aperture 96 in the base of a second neighbouring storage cage 150b to retain them in a stacked configuration.

In this embodiment the cooperating features 92 comprise a pair of rail members 94 projecting from the top wall portion 172 of the lid 158. A first one of the rail members 94 is disposed proximate a first one of the end wall portions 170 and a second one of the rail members 94 is disposed proximate a second one of the end wall portions 170. A longitudinal axis of each of the rail members 94 extends substantially parallel to the plane of the end wall portions 170.

The base 152 of the storage cage 150 comprises a substantially rectangular perimeter frame 153. The perimeter frame 153 comprises two longer side members 155 and two shorter end members 157. The perimeter frame 153 extends around and defines a central aperture 96 in the base 152 of the cage 150.

In use, when a second storage cage 150b is located on top of a first storage cage 150a in a stacked configuration, each of the rail members 94 of the first storage cage 150a locates in the central aperture 96 in the base 152 of the second storage cage 150b. A spacing between the two rail members 94 is preferably such that the first rail member 94 is disposed adjacent a first one of the two end members 157 of the perimeter frame 153 and the second rail member 94 is disposed adjacent a second one of the two end members 157. Furthermore, a length of each of the rail members 94 is preferably substantially the same as a distance between the two side members 155 of the perimeter frame 153.

In this way, movement of the second storage cage 150b relative to the first storage cage 150a in opposite first and second directions is prevented by contact between one of the rail members 94 and the respective one of the end members 157 of the perimeter frame 153, and movement of the second storage cage 150b relative to the first storage cage 150a in opposite third and fourth directions (perpendicular to the first and second directions) is prevented by contact between ends of the rail members 94 and a respective one of the side members 155 of the perimeter frame 153.

In other embodiments the cooperating features 92 may have any suitable arrangement and configuration that prevents movement of a second storage cage relative to a first storage cage in a plane parallel to a plane of the base of the second storage cage.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the arm hitch 182 is removed from the lid 158 of the first storage cage 150a before the second storage cage 150b is placed on top. In some embodiments the second storage cage 150b may be secured to the first storage cage 150a, and an arm hitch 182 may remain attached to the lid 158 of the second storage cage 150b. In these embodiments an excavator arm secured to the arm hitch 182 may then be used to lift and manoeuvre both the first and second storage cages 150a, 150b together.

In other embodiments the arm hitch 182 may remain attached to the lid 158 of the first storage cage 150a when a second storage cage 150b is positioned on top in the stacked configuration. In these embodiments the base 152 of the storage cage 150 may comprise a recess or aperture in which the arm hitch 182 is received in the stacked configuration.

It will be appreciated that an arm hitch may be attached to the lid of the storage cage 50 of the first embodiment. The arm hitch may be configured to engage with the mesh 66 of the lid 58 of the storage cage 50. In particular, the arm hitch may include a base plate that includes engagement features configured to secure the arm hitch to the mesh 66. The arm hitch may extend across the gap 80 in the mesh 66 of the lid 58.

Other modifications and variations not explicitly disclosed above may also be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container for retaining an excavator attachment on a trailer, the container comprising: a lower portion including a base, a pair of opposing end walls, and a front wall;a lid connected to the lower portion and arranged to pivot between a first position, in which the container may receive an excavator attachment, and a second position, in which the excavator attachment is retained by the container; anda coupling configured to secure the container to a trailer such that the end walls of the lower portion are adjacent side walls of the trailer and the front wall of the lower portion is adjacent a front wall of the trailer,

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the depth of the lid is more than twice the depth of the lower portion.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the coupling comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein the coupling further comprises a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion.

5. The container of claim 3, wherein the lid is connected to the lower portion by a hinge and a part of the hinge is attached to the flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge plate that extends from the flange so as to define a channel within which a wall of the trailer may be received to secure the container to the trailer.

7. The container of claim 1, the lid further comprising an arm hitch for coupling to an excavator arm, such that the container can be lifted onto or away from the trailer by an excavator arm.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the arm hitch is releasably attached to the lid.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the arm hitch comprises a base plate including engagement features configured to secure the arm hitch to the lid.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the engagement features comprise channels within which bars of the lid are seated to secure the arm hitch to the lid.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the lid and the base comprise cooperating features configured to engage with each other such that the cooperating feature of the lid of a first container may be engaged with the cooperating feature of the base of a second container to retain the first and second containers in a stacked configuration.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the cooperating features comprise a projection and an aperture.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the projection comprises a rail member.

14. A trailer for transporting an item of plant machinery, the trailer comprising: a platform including a floor for supporting the item of plant machinery, a front end wall and two side walls; andthe container of claim 1, the container being secured to the trailer by the coupling such that the end walls of the lower portion of the container are adjacent the side walls of the platform and the front wall of the container is adjacent the front end wall of the platform.

15. The trailer of claim 14, wherein a top edge of each of the end walls and the front wall of the lower portion of the container lie in substantially the same plane as top edges of the front end wall and the side walls of the platform.

16. The trailer of claim 14, wherein the coupling comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion that is engaged with the front end wall of the platform and the coupling comprises a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion, each end wall flange being engaged with a respective one of the side walls of the platform.

17. A combination of the trailer of claim 14, and an item of plant machinery seated on the floor of the trailer, wherein the lid of the container comprises an arm hitch, and an arm of the item of plant machinery is secured to the arm hitch.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the arm hitch comprises a retainer bar and the arm of the item of plant machinery is secured to the retainer bar by a quick release coupling on the arm.