TRANSPORT VEHICLE HAVING A VARIABLE WIDTH

Abstract

A transport vehicle includes a chassis with at least two load carriers which are placed next to and at a distance from each other. The distance between the at least two load carriers are modifiable in order to modify the width of the transport vehicle. The at least two load carriers of the transport vehicle are connected to one another by at least one articulated twin-arm structure.

Claims

1. A transport vehicle, comprising: a chassis comprising at least two load carriers being arranged side by side and distant from each other, whose mutual distance can be changed for varying a width of the transport vehicle; wherein the at least two load carriers of the transport vehicle are connected by at least one scissor link; wherein the at least one scissor link comprises a first arm and a second arm, wherein a first end portion of the first arm is pivotally connected with the first load carrier from the at least two load carriers, wherein a first end portion of the second arm is pivotally connected with the second load carrier from the at least two load carriers, wherein a second end portion of the first arm and a second end portion of the second arm are connected via a joint.

2. The transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one scissor link connecting the at least two load carriers of the transport vehicle now comprises at least two scissor links connecting the at least two load carriers of the transport vehicle.

3. The transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least two load carriers are connected via at least one length-adjustable cross beam.

4. The transport vehicle according to claim 2, wherein each scissor link has at least one means for defining an angular position of the first or second arm relative to its respective load carrier.

5. The transport vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the at least one means for defining an angular position of the first or second arm relative to its respective load carrier comprises a perforated plate attached to its respective load carrier, where the perforated plate has several openings defining a hole pattern through which a locking element is configured to be lead through securing the first or second arm relative to its respective load carrier.

6. The transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the chassis of the transport vehicle comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies.

7. The transport vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least one wheel assembly of the plurality of wheel assemblies is steerable.

8. The transport vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the transport vehicle comprises a device configured to change the angular position of the at least two scissor links relative to the first and second load carriers.

9. The transport vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said device is connected to and engages with the at least two scissor links.

10. The transport vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the device is a double-acting cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Further details and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the exemplary embodiments, which are described in the following with reference to the two exemplary embodiments. It shows:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a transport vehicle;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the first exemplary embodiment at an enlarged width;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top view on the first exemplary embodiment at a reduced width;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a top view on a second exemplary embodiment at an enlarged width; and

[0022] FIG. 6 is a top view on the second exemplary embodiment at a reduced width.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In FIGS. 1 to 4 a first exemplary embodiment of a transport vehicle, generally designated with 1, is shown, which is, in the case described here, designed as a self-propelled transport vehicle. Such self-propelled transport vehicles are known under the designation SPMT-vehicles (self-propelled modular trailer) and therefore need not be described in detail.

[0024] The transport vehicle 1 comprises a chassis 2, which has two load carriers (i.e. load girders) 2a, 2b, which are arranged spaced apart and can be moved relative to each other in a transverse direction. Preferably, they are constructed identically, so that in the following only the load carrier 2a, which is the right one in FIG. 1, is described in detail. Under the load carrier 2a a number of wheel assemblies 3 is provided, each having a dual wheel 3a, which is connected by a pendulum axle 3b with a turntable 3c (see FIG. 2) of the wheel assembly 3. The drive energy required for driving and steering the wheel assemblies 3 is generated by a drive unit 3d, at it is known e.g. under the designation PPU (Power Pack Unit) and therefore is not described in detail.

[0025] It is essential that the two load carrier 2a and 2b of the chassis 2 are connected by two scissor links 4 and 5 with each other, each having two arms 4a and 4b and 5a and 5b respectively. A first end portion 4a and 4b respectively of the arms 4a and 4b of the first scissor link 4 isas best seen from FIGS. 4 and 5hinged movably to each of the two load carriers 2a and 2b of the chassis 2 and the two second end portions 4a, 4b of the arms 4a, 4b are connected via a joint 4c. In a corresponding way the first end portions 5a and 5b of the two arms 5a and 5b of the second scissor link 5 are pivotally connected with the load carriers 2a and 2b and their second end portion 5a, 5b are connected via a joint 5c. Each of the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the two scissor links 4 and 5 comprises two carriers 6a and 6b being arranged one above the other, which are connected via a joint element 6c in such a way that the two carriers 6a, 6b produce at both ends the joint element 6c, so that protruding end portions 6a and 6b respectively are provided, which delimit a free space. The end portion 6a and 6b of the two carriers 6a and 6b of each arm 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 therefore can be inserted between articulating elements 8a and 8b of a joint 8, which is firmly connected with the load carriers 2a and 2b. The articulation elements 8a and 8b as well as the end portions 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 each comprise an opening 8c, through which a bolt 8d of the joint 8 can be moved through, so that the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 are pivotally connected with the load carriers 2a, 2b.

[0026] The load carriers 2a and 2b are connected firmly via a cross beam 2c, whose length can be varied, so that the stability of the vehicle 1 is enhanced.

[0027] The joints 8 comprise a means 10 for defining the angular position of the arms 4a-5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 in respect to the load carriers 2a and 2b. This one has got a perforated plate 11, which has got openings 12 forming a hole pattern, which are arranged concentrically to the pivot axis of the joints 8 provided by the bolts 8d. Each arm 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 comprises a recess 13, which is arranged in such a way that a bolt 14 put through one of the openings 12 of the hole pattern enters the corresponding recess 13 of the respective arms 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b and hence fixes the arm 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b in its angular position corresponding to the respective opening of the hole pattern.

[0028] The width adjustment of the described vehicle 1 is now performed as follows: Firstly, the bolts 14 are removed, so that the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 are not fixed in their corresponding angular position any longer. If the load carriers 2a and 2b are to be moved from their broader position shown in FIG. 3 into their narrower position shown in FIG. 4, this is achieved in the described first exemplary embodiment in an advantageous way via corresponding driving movements of the transport vehicle 1. This has got the advantage that for a width adjustment of the transport vehicle 1 no further devices as e. g. hydraulic cylinders, dual wheels, by which the load carriers 2a and 2b can be moved towards each other or away from each other, are required. To move the load carriers 2a and 2b together, the steering axles of the wheel arrangements 3 of the two load carriers 2a and 2b are positioned in such a way that the dual wheels 3aseen in the direction of the following driving movementare turned inwardly. If the transport vehicle 1 is moved in said driving direction, this results that the dual wheels 3a move towards each other and the load carriers 2a and 2b move, due to this driving movements, inwardly. Simultaneously the length adjustable, preferably telescopable cross beam 2c slides together. After the desired width of the transport vehicle 1 has been achieved via the aforementioned driving movement, the bolts 14 are put through the respective openings 12 of the hole pattern of the perforated plate 11 and in this way the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b and therefore the load carriers 2a and 2b connected with them are fixed in a defined position in respect to each other.

[0029] The moving apart of the load carriers 2a and 2b is done correspondingly: After the locking elements of the means 10, i.e. in this case the bolts 14, have been removed, the steering axles of the wheel assemblies 6 are positioned in such a way that the dual wheels 3aseen in the aforementioned direction of travelare arranged running spread apart. If now the transport vehicle 1 is moved in said direction, the wheels 3a move outwardly, so that the load carriers 2a and 2b are moved apart from each other. After the desired width has been reached, the bolts 14 are put into the corresponding openings 12 of the hole patterns 11. In this way a fixation of the scissor links 4 and 5 in respect to their angular position and hence to the distance between the load carriers 2a and 2b is achieved.

[0030] It is possible too, that the transport vehicle 1 comprises means known to the person skilled in the art and hence not shown, e.g. hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, which act in traverse direction onto the load carriers 2a and 2b, in order to change the angular position of the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the two scissor links 4 and 5 and the load carriers 2a and 2b by these means.

[0031] It is possible to that between the scissor links 4 and 5 a corresponding device 20 is arranged, by which the longitudinal distance between the joints 4c and 5c of the scissor links 4 and 5 can be changed, thus resulting in an adjustment of the angular positions of the arms 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b of the scissor links 4 and 5 and hence of the distance between the two load carriers 2a and 2b. In the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 it is provided that this device 20 for changing the longitudinal distance of the joints 4c and 5c of the scissor links 4 and 5 is a hydraulic operated double-acting cylinder 21: Through an extension of the piston rod 22 of the double-acting cylinder 21 the joints 4c and 5c are moved in the longitudinal direction of the transport vehicle 1 apart from each other, so that the load carriers 2a and 2b are moved apart from each other. In a corresponding manner the retraction of the piston rod 22 of the double-acting cylinder 21 has the effect that the distance between the joints 4c and 5c decreases, so that the load carriers 2a and 2b are moved towards each other and in this way the width of the transport vehicle 1 and hence its track width is reduced. It is of advantage if the moving together and moving apart of the load carriers 2a, 2b is supported by an appropriate positioning of the wheels 3a of the wheel assemblies 3.

[0032] In the above description it was assumed that the chassis 2 of the transport vehicle 1 only has got the two load carriers 2a and 2b connected by the scissor links 4 and 5. It is possible too to cascade the previously described arrangement, e.g. that besides the two previously described load carriers 2a and 2b connected via the scissor links 4 and 5 at least one further load carrier of the chassis 2 is provided, which is once more connected via further scissor links with the load carriers 2a and 2b respectively. It is possible to provide more than three load carriers 2a and 2b and to connect adjacent load carriers via scissor links 4 and 5.

[0033] In the above description, it was assumed that between adjacent load carriers 2a and 2b two scissor links 4 and 5 are arranged. This is not mandatory, but it is possible only to provide only one scissor link 4 or 5 between the two load carriers 2a or 2b, although this is not preferred. When using long load carriers 2a and 2b it is of advantage to provide more than two scissor links 4 and 5.

[0034] The provision of the wheel assemblies 3 of the transport vehicle 1 with corresponding steering axles is preferred, since this is a particular simple and elegant way to change the distance between the load carriers 2a and 2b and hence the width of the transport vehicle 1 via a corresponding driving movement. But this is not mandatory. It is, e.g. possible to apply a force on the scissor links 4 and/or 5 by means of a side impact of one or both load carriers 2a and/or 2b, which results in a change of the angular position of the load arms 4a, 4b and/or 5a, 5b and hence a change of the distance between the load carriers 2a and 2b. Here, the dual wheels 3a of the wheel assembly 3 are de facto pushed over the ground bearing the transport vehicle 1.

[0035] In conclusion, it must be stated that by the measures described a transport vehicle 1 is provided, which is characterized by its simple width and hence track width adjustment. By providing that at least two load carriers 2a, 2b of the chassis 2 of the transport vehicle 1 are connected via one or several scissor links 4, 5 with each other, the distance of the corresponding load carriers 2a and 2b can be increased or reduced by a simple driving movement of the transport vehicle 1 in connection with appropriately build wheel assemblies 3.