Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
-- 1 --
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to road vehicles which
are adapted for loading and unloading containers onto
and off of their rear chassis.
More par-ticularly, the present invention
relates to vehicles having mechanisms for loading and
unloading containers, such as presently used in
international transport, whether land, maritime or
aerial.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
-
In ports or airports, for example, it is
necessary to provide a special lifting apparatus to
load and unload these containers to and from road
vehicles which are adapted to receive them. For this
purpose, it is most often required to have cranes or
gantries of great power due to the weight of these
con-tainers which may reach 30 metric tons or to their
length which is rather great for example, about 12
me-ters. Once loaded, these containers are -transported
by road to another station which, again, must be
equipped with cranes or gantries of great lifting power
to unload the containers.
Various loading and unloading mechanisms have
been devised. For example, see U.S. patent No.
3,467,268 issued September 16, 1969 to Corompt, U.S.
patent No. 4,133,439 issued January 9, 1979 to Paul L.
Goranson, U.S. patent No. 4,529,349 issued July 16,
. ~ .
~2~0~
-- 2
1985 to Theodore A. Lutz and ~.S. patent No. 4,645,405
issued February 24, 1987 to Cambiano.
All of these patents describe a system which
includes a tilting frame equipped with a
cable-and-winch assembly, the cable engaging the front
end of the container to be loaded. However, all of
these systems require a frictional sliding contact
between the container and the tilting frame, this
contact causing damages to the frame as well as to the
underside of the container. Frequently, this underside
is damaged making the sliding movement difficult or
sometimes impracticable.
OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a road vehicle with a loading and unloading
mechanism that includes a carriage which is slidable on
the tilting frame, engages the front lower part of the
container, lifts it so as to provide a distance between
the container and the frame, and pulls it as the
carriage is moved frontwardly towards the cabin of the
truck without, however, allowing contact between the
container and the frame during the entire loading
operation. This is achieved by providing on the frame,
retractable lifting means which, at some stage of the
loading operation, are moved outside of respective
gutters, in which they are housed, to contact the
underside of the container and to allow a smooth
~291~
-- 3 --
sliding movement until the container reaches the end of
its course on the frame. At its final loading
position, the frame lowers the container to rest onto
four support elements, two of which are loca-ted on the
vehicle chassis, the other two located at the rear of
the frame. These support elements are so disposed tha-t
a separation is maintained between the container and
the frame even during transport.
Therefore, the present invention relates to a
road vehicle for loading and unloading containers onto
and off of a rear extension of its main chassis, which
comprises, in its broadest aspect: a tiltable frame
pivotably mounted to this rear ex-tension of the
; chassis; tilting means connected between the chassis
extension and the tiltable frame for pivoting the frame
relative to the chassis; a movable carriage
transversely mounted to the frame and longitudinally
displaceable therealong from one end to the other;
clamping means pivotally mounted at each end of the
carriage Eor engaging the front lower corners of a
container disposed adjacent the rear of -the chassis in
position for loading; carriage moving means mounted in
the frame for longitudinally displacing the carriage in
either direction of the frame; retractable container
lifting means disposed on each side of the frame
adjacent the rear end thereof for contacting underparts
of the container and for main-taining a distance between
-- 4
the container and the frame during loading and
unloading operations thereby avoiding contact between
the frame and the container during these loading and
unloading operations; a pair of front supports mounted
to the front end of the chassis extension for receiving
the front lower corners of the container when loaded on
the vehicle; and a pair of rear supports mounted on the
frame at the rear thereof for receiving the rear lower
' corners o~ the container after the lifting means are
retracted and the container is loaded on the vehicle;
the rear supports cooperate with the fron-t supports to
maintain a distance between the container and the frame
when the container rests in a loaded position on the
vehicle and after the lifting means are retracted so
that only four contact points are provided between the
container and the vehicle.
The manner in which objects and advantages
are obtained with the present invention and -the manner
in which the container loadi.ng and unloading means are
constructed and operated will be briefly explained and
described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
- Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a road
vehicle embodying the present invention with a tilting
: frame in an elevated container loading or unloading
~ position;
~9~{~
-- 5 --
- Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the
tiltable frame of the vehicle;
- Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view
of the carriage's clamps in engagement with the lower
front corners of a container;
- Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the carriage
showing in cross-section the lower front part of a
container being engaged therewith;
- Fig. 5 is a rear elevational vièw of the
carriage mounted on longitudinal members of the
tiltable frame;
- Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational, partly
sectional, view of a locking mechanism in the carriage;
- Fig. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a
front lower corner area of the container extending over
a front support of the vehicle chassis;
- Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the
~; lifting means in the tiltable frame of the vehicle; and
- Figs 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
illustrate successive phases of the loading of the road
vehicle beginning with the container placed on the
ground; and
- Fig. 16, which is located on the same sheet
as Figs 2 and 3 illustrates one way of securing the
rear of the container to the frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a
,: ,
",~
, .
, ~ .
~39 ~
-- 6 --
container transport vehicle 10 having a driver's cab 12
on the forward part of a chassis 14 which is supported
by conventional steering front wheel assemblies 16.
The rear extension of the chassis is supported by
tandem drive wheel assemblies 18 and 200 This vehicle
is conventional; hence, other forms of vehicles may be
provided with the present invention.
The chassis 14 includes conventional spaced
apart and generally parallel frame members 21 and 22
that are joined together at various locations by
cross-members (not shown).
The improvement of the present invention
consists in the provision of a particularly designed
and tiltable frame, generally designated 28, which is
pivotably mounted at 30 (see Fig. 8) to the rear of
frame members 21 and 22. This frame is caused to pivot
by the operation of a pair of hydraulic liEt cylinders
32 and 34 which have one end connected to the chassis
and the other end connected to the frame 28.
Frame 28 includes two parallel side frame
members 36 and 38 which act as the main supports for a
con-tainer 40 to be loaded on the vehicle.
Referring to Fig. 2, longitudinal frame
members 36 and 38 are structurally spaced by a series
of cross-members 42. Frame 28 displays an enlarged
rear body portion 28' which includes a series
transverse cross-members 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54.
~9~
-- 7
The two members 36 and 38 have a flat top surface 36',
38' which is adapted to slidably receive thereon a
movable carriage, generally designated as 56.
Referring to Figs 3, 4 and 5, the movable
carriage 56 includes a transverse cross-beam 58 which
is equipped at its underpart with a pair of downwardly
extending flange elements 60 and 62 having rollers 64
and 66 adapted to ride along the top faces 36' and 38'
of the longitudinal members 36 and 38. Rearwardly of
the cross-beam 58 of the movable carriage is mounted,
parallel thereto, a rod 68 which is connected to the
beam by means of opposite end brackets 70 and 72.
A pair of clamping mechanisms 74 and 76 is
:` mounted at the opposite ends of the connecting rod 68,
which is free to rotate in its support brackets 70, 72.
Hence, the elamping mechanisms, which are mount~ed at
. each end of the connecting rod, may pivot relative to
the eross-beam 58 and also relative to the frame so
that, as the til-table frame moves between an horizontal
position and an inelined position, the weight of the
clamping mechanisms cause rotation of the connecting
rod 68 for the purpose described hereinbelow.
The clamping mechanisms are identical in
construction; therefore, description will be made only
with reference to clamping mechanism 74. This clamping
~ mechanism is formed of a verti.cal wall 77 moun-ted to
: one end of rod 68 and of a flat horizontal surface 78
. ~
',",",~:
~.29~
-- 8 --
which is adapted to lie on the ground adjacent to -the
longitudinal side lower member 80 (or 82) of the
container 40.
Referring to Fig. 6, each clamping mechanism
further includes a housing 83 equipped with a locking
device therewithin to secure it to the container. This
locking mechanism consists of a T-shaped pin 84 which
protrudes outside the housing and is shaped as to fit
into an orifice 86 (see Fig. 7) which is provided in
the lower front corner housing 88 (or 90) of any
conventional container. The mechanism provided to
rotate pin 84 to come into a non-retrievable locking
position in the corner housing 88 of the container
consists of an hydraulic cylinder 92, having a piston
94 connected to an arm 96 connected to pin 84. The
cylinder moves arm 96 and pin 84 into two positions as
shown in dotted lines and as indicated by arrow 98.
Hydraulic conduits 100 and 102 extend -to -the front of
the vehicle and are supported by means of pulleys 104,
106 moun-ked to the frontmost cross-member 42' of the
frame.
The clamping mechanism comprises also a
switch 108 extending from housing 83 beyond -the front
wall 110. When fully retracted into the housing, this
switch indicates to the driver when the front wall is
bearing against the container lower frame surface 112.
With the switch fully retracted in its housing, the
~L299~
9 _
driver may then actuate cylinder 92 to cause the
rotation of pin 84 into a locking arrangement with the
container corner housing 88. A pulley 106 allows the
electrical wires of the switch to be wound and unwound
; 5 as the carriage is move~ to and from the rear of the
frame.
~ As shown in Fig. 3, in order to allow the
: clamping mechanism 74 to be adjust vertically, an
elongated slot 120 is provided in bracket 70 thus
permitting end 68' of rod 68 to move relative to the
cross-beam 58. Hence, the clamping mechanisms are
movable, rotatably and vertically, relative to the
cross-beam.
To further secure the connection of the
clamping mechanism to the container, an additional
~ locking pin 122 is provided to extend through an
.~ opening 124 in the side wall 77 of the clamping
mechanism and into an orifice 126 in the corner housing
88 of the container (see Fig. 7).
The carriage is movable on members 36 and 38
through a cable and winch assembly which includes a
cable 130 reeved on a movable pulley 132. A pair of
hydraulic cylinders 134 and 136 have one end mounted to
: a cross-member 138 of the rear body of the frame and
their front end mounted to a pulley supporting member
140, which thus is capable of traveling within and
along the side walls of the longitudinal members 36 and
.. . .. .
, ,
~ - .
.
..:
'; . :,' '', .
. .
'
L07
- 10-
3~.
Referring more particularly to Figs 2 and 8,
the enlarged rear frame portion of the tiltable frame
comprises two gutters 150 and 152 at opposlte sides
thereof. Each gutter serves to receive a container
raising and lowering device, generally designated 154.
Both devices are identical in construction and
operation and a description of one only will now be
given with reference to Fig. 8.
The container raising and lowering mechanism
154 comprises a top flat plate 156 which is adapted to
contact the under face of the side member 80 (see Fig.
7) of the container. This plate is moun-ted at each end
thereof to a pair of arms 158 and 160 pivotally mounted
;~ 15 to longitudinal side members 162 and 164 of the frame.
The front portion of this raising mechanism is
pivotally connected to an hydraulic cylinder 166 also
pivotally moun-ted in the gutter; the function of this
raising and lowering mechanism will be described futher
hereinbelow in connection with the operation of the
present invention.
~ ther means of contacting the under face of
the side member 80 of -the container are envisaged; for
example, a series of longitudinally-spaced small
rollers could be provided instead of the flat sliding
surface 156. Also, a movable conveyor could also be
provided, thus avoiding friction between the container
3LZg~7~L
and the frame as the container is moved relative to the
frame.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, a vertical post
168 is the only addition made to the chassis of a
; 5 vehicle to which a loading and unloading mechanism of
the present invention is mounted. Post 168 has a top
projection 170 which is adapted to be received in a
corresponding orifice 172 provided in the lower front
-~ corner housing 88 of the container.
In operation, to load container 40 onto the
vehicle 10, reference will be made to the successive
stages illustrated schematically in Figs 9-15. The
truck 10 is backed adjacent to the front end of the
~` container 40. Frame 28 is tilted up until the angled
end surfaces 36A and 38A contact the ground. The
~; movable carriage 56 slides downwardly on rollers 64, 66
towards the rear of the frame until plates 78 of the
clamping mechanisms are still at a small distance from
the ground, for example, four inches. I'he truck is
again backed up while ensuring -that the plates ex-tend
on the outside of the container. The carriage is again
moved downwards until the plates come in contact with
the ground. The truck is jerked rearwardly until the
pins 84 are entirely entered in the lower corner
housings of the container through orifices 86. ~hen
the switches 108 send a signal to indicate to the
driver that the pins have been fully retracted in the
~'
,~
, ,:, . ~ ..
. .. ;:
.
~' '., ~ .
.
9~L07~
- 12 -
housinys 83, the hydraulic cylinders 92 are operated to
rotate -the pins 90 and to lock them in the container
corner housings.
Then, the driver sets the vehicle
transmission in neutral. The hydraulic cylinders 134
and 136 are operated so that the cable and winch
assembly causes the carriage to slowly move up the
frame towards the front on the longitudinal members 36
and 38. This operation causes the front of the
container to be raised slightly. With the transmission
still in neutral, the vehicle moves rearwardly under
the pulling action of the carriage and the rear portion
of the tiltable frame moves rearwardly underneath the
container. During -this operation, no contact is made
between the container and the tilting frame; the
clamping mechanism supports the front end of the
container above the frame as shown in Fig. 11.
Frame 28 is then in a slightly tilted
position. As the undersurface of the container
; 20 approaches the top face of the frame, the sliding
surfaces 156 are raised out of their gutters so that,
as the carriage is continuously moved forward, the
undersurface of the container contacts and slides along
these surfaces 156 (see Fig. 12). The carriage further
moves toward the front with the container sliding on
the side plates 156. Then, at its frontmost position,
the tilting frame is further lowered until the
~9~0~
- 13 -
projections 170 on posts 168 are received in -the
orifices 172 of the container. Finally, plates 156 are
returned in their gutters and the rear corners of the
container abut the rear corner supporting blocks 180,
182 mounted on the rear cross-member 46 of the tiltable
frame. In this final position, means such as the
locking device 200 may be provided with one end 202
engaged in the rear corner housing 204 of the container
40 and an opposite end 206 engaged in frame 46 of the
tiltable frame to ensure that the rear of the container
is fixedly secured to the frame during transpor-t.
Although the invention has been described
above in relation to one specific form, it will be
evident to the person skilled in the art that it may be
modified and refined in various ways. It is therefore
wished to have it understood that the present invention
; should not be limited in interpretation except by the
terms of the following claims.
. . .
