Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means – and...
Patent
1997-04-28
1999-08-24
Keenan, James W.
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means, and...
B60P 144
Patent
active
059416777
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a loading platform for mounting on a transport vehicle, comprising a loading flap pivotable between a substantially vertical position lying against the vehicle and a lowered, practically horizontal position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a loading platform is applied on a large scale in combination with for instance trucks. Using such a loading platform freight can be placed on the lowered loading platform, whereafter the loading flap and freight placed thereon is moved until the supporting side thereof is situated at the height of the loading floor of the truck. The freight can then be placed in simple manner in the truck. The loading flap can subsequently also be used to close the truck, for which purpose it is moved to a substantially vertical position lying against the vehicle. Unloading of the truck takes place in reverse manner. The loading platform has the important advantage that it renders superfluous lifting means for placing cargo in and removing it from a transport vehicle. A drawback of existing loading platforms however consists of a comparatively voluminous construction of the loading flap, whereby in the lowered, practically horizontal position at least a part of the supporting side of the loading flap is located at a distance from the ground. A chamfered loading flap makes it possible to move the freight on and off the loading flap. However, when freight is placed onto the loading flap a determined resistance has to be overcome. In use this means that for instance heavy roller containers must be pushed by a number of people onto the loading flap. Another drawback occurs when the loading flap is lowered. As soon as the loading flap is fully lowered, a freight placed thereon can slide/run off the loading flap. In order to prevent this the load has to be held back by a device or by a person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has for its object to provide a loading platform with which in the lowered position the loading flap can be placed more flatly on the ground than is the case with the loading flaps known up to the present time.
The invention provides for this purpose a loading platform of the type stated in the preamble comprising at least one actuating member which engages on the supporting side of the loading flap for pivoting round a hinge point and which is provided with drive means for controlling the orientation thereof, wherein in the lowered position the distance between the point of the actuating member located furthest from the supporting side and the supporting side of the loading flap can be reduced by the drive means. The actuating member connected hingedly to the loading flap serves in the substantially vertical position of the loading flap lying against the vehicle as arm for exerting a closing force on the loading flap. In the practically horizontal, lowered position of the loading flap the actuating member is however displaceable such that it protrudes downward from the supporting side of the loading flap to a lesser extent (or no longer does so at all) than in the position of the loading flap lying against the vehicle. Displacing the actuating member makes it possible to place the supporting side of the loading flap in much flatter position close to the ground. This provides the sought after functionality without loss of the positive properties of the loading platforms already known in the prior art.
The actuating member is preferably also connected to the loading flap by means of a coupling member at a distance from the hinge point with the loading flap. This coupling member is preferably connected to the loading flap for movement along a guide or to the actuating member for movement along a guide. Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the coupling member is a member with adjustable length. These supporting variants of the loading flap also enable control of the orientation of the loading flap by controlling the orientation of the actuating member. The loading
REFERENCES:
patent: 2774494 (1956-12-01), Malmstrom
patent: 3630395 (1971-12-01), Bunge
patent: 3666122 (1972-05-01), Youmans
patent: 3842997 (1974-10-01), Sprikkelman
patent: 4780044 (1988-10-01), Elskamp
patent: 4836736 (1989-06-01), Neagu
patent: 5118246 (1992-06-01), Saussard et al.
patent: 5588793 (1996-12-01), Chang
Eco Global Patents B.V.
Keenan James W.
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