Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means – and...
Patent
1984-06-19
1986-02-11
Sheridan, Robert G.
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means, and...
414917, B60P 144
Patent
active
045696268
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a combined elevating platform and mounting device for attaching the platform to the tailgate elevator of an automotive truck, said tailgate elevator being of the parallellogram type and including a lifting cylinder linked to a lifting arm and a supporting arm which may comprise a rocker cylinder, said lifting arm and said supporting arm at one end engaging a support member connected to the elevating platform via horizontal pivot shafts at a mutual distance for pivoting the elevating platform by means of the lifting cylinder between a lower and an upper position, said elevating platform tapering from its forward thick end to which the support member is connected towards its rear end.
According to another aspect the invention also refers to an elevating platform and a support member, respectively, for such a combination.
BACKGROUND ART
Several different kinds of elevating platforms, together with their associated support members, are known to the art. The design of the support member depends, to a large extent, on the kind of tailgate elevator for which it is intended, and to the rocker or pivot arrangement used in each individual case.
In many cases it is difficult to provide a simple and reliable mounting device for connecting the support member to the tailgate elevator and the elevating platform. For example, the support member must be capable of taking up the high loads and stresses to which the platform is subjected, and to transfer these loads and stresses to the tailgate elevator while, at the same time, enabling the elevating platform to be swung readily in the vertical plane. In many cases, it must also be possible to raise the platform readily to a vertical position, even when the platform is located in its lower position. Otherwise, when occupying its lower position the platform may prevent the truck from being reversed closely into a loading bridge. It is sometimes necessary to bring the truck as close as possible to the loading bridge, especially when loading is to be carried out under cover with respect to weather conditions.
In certain cases, elevating platforms of the kind mentioned are constructed from extruded sections. In cases such as these, it is particularly difficult to provide a simple and reliable means of mounting or attachment with respect to the elevating platform, among other things because it must be possible to vary the dimensions of the support member and pivot shaft, for example in dependence upon the number of sections in the complete platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,348,993 (Novotney) describes an elevating gate whose support members take the shape of brackets secured to a transverse tie rod. The gate which is lifted to its upper position by means of a hoist rests on the bracket members and is pivotable relative thereto about a further shaft engaged by outer support arms which have a bend at their outer ends.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,525,424 (Novotney) describes a development of this arrangement in which the hoist is replaced by a central frame supporting a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly. Further, there is added a gate counterbalancing mechanism including torsion springs between said frame and gate.
None of these prior documents presents a solution to the above problems, especially not if the elevating platform or gate comprises extruded sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the aforementioned problem is solved in a simple and purposeful fashion by locating the support member--which is separate from the platform and preferably demountable therefrom--in a recess formed in the thick end of the elevating platform, and by connecting the support member to said elevating platform via the horizontal pivot shaft or pin thereof, against which shaft the lifting arm also pivotally engages.
Because the support member, the lifting arm and the elevating platform are held in position by one and the same shaft, which also serves as the elevating-platform pivot, there is obtained a simplified attachm
REFERENCES:
patent: 2348993 (1944-05-01), Novotney
patent: 2525424 (1950-10-01), Novotney
Sheridan Robert G.
Z-Lyften Produktion AB
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