Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means – and...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-30
2001-09-04
Keenan, James W. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Loading or unloading by other carrier or mover means, and...
C414S547000, C212S261000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283699
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the transportation of containers and particularly to a mechanism for loading and unloading of containers onto vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present a number of constructions of container lifter are available and most of these are designed to lift shipping type containers onto the tray of a truck or trailer unit from only one side of the vehicle. This has disadvantages in certain situations where extra effort is required to shift the vehicle into a position where loading and unloading is required. Another problem with container handling is that most current lifters are designed to carry fully loaded containers and as such are built structurally to withstand weights of up to 20 to 40 tonnes. These constructions of lifter are therefore very expensive to run and construct, and are unnecessary when containers are carried empty. Empty containers are carried very regularly from site to site or after use to a cleaning or repair facility.
An object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple inexpensive mechanism for loading and unloading a vehicle from either side, preferably, the mechanism can also enable the stacking of containers.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a mechanism for loading or unloading a container onto a tray attached to or attachable to a truck or trailer vehicle, the mechanism including a transverse assembly at each end of the tray, each assembly incorporating a centrally mounted telescoping boom, a lower part of which incorporates an extension to which opposed hydraulic rams are linked, the hydraulic rams being adopted to control transverse movement of the boom when one retracts and the other extends. Each assembly can also incorporate an each side of the tray a stabilising leg, the arrangement being such that in a travelling position the stabilising legs are parked generally upright on or relative to the tray and the boom is retracted to be either upright on the tray or angled slightly from vertical to reduce the vertical height of the vehicle. In an operative position the stabilising legs can be down in contact with the ground. The booms are extended to enable cables, chains or strops to be used to raise a container and swing it on or off the tray of the vehicle.
In a further aspect of the invention provides means of stacking containers on a deck of a truck or trailer vehicle.
Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description. For example, preferred embodiments of the mechanism or vehicle of the invention may include one or both of the following additional features: each hydraulic ram, when retracted, is aligned substantially at right angles to the boom, and/or each hydraulic ram has a housing from one end of which a ram rod extends, the housing being attached substantially adjacent one end to a fixed part of the assembly.
Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Fish & Richardson P.C.
Keenan James W.
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