DRAWBAR CONNECTOR/ARTICULATION JOINT FOR A TRANSPORT TRAILER AND A TRAILER OF VARIABLE LENGTH

摘要

A drawbar connector comprises a frame 44 having a horizontal pivot 26 displaced forward of a vertical pivot made up of three bearing members 32,, 34 and 36. The top and bottom bearing members 23 and 34 are radial bearings while the middle bearing 34 is a thrust bearing. The bearing 32 is also forwardly displaced of the middle bearing 34 as is the middle bearing 34 of the bottom bearing 36. The offset horizontal pivot 26 and the vertical pivot of bearings 32, 34 and 36 provide an improved turning ability for the trailer as does the staggered horizontal arrangement of the vertical bearings 32, 34 and 36. The horizontal pivot 36 is made up of pairs of tapered bushes at either side of the drawbar. A trailer having a movable a axle group 24 is also described. The axle group 24 is part of a chassis sub- frame assembly which can slide underneath the chassis perimeter beams and lock in position with four hydraulically operated locking pins. A trailer is also described having a rear extensible member 25. This member is accommodated in hollow chassis perimeter beams of the trailer and is locked in place by a pair of locking pins in either a retracted or an extended position. In its extended position the rear extender member act as a cantilever beam to increase the capacity of the trailer.