ROLL-ON ROLL-OFF CONTAINER HOOKS

DISPOSITIF DE MANUTENTION MULTIBENNE EQUIPE DE CROCHETS DE RETENUE

English Abstract

Un dispositif de verrouillage pour retenir une charge sur un véhicule dans lequel un élément de verrouillage pourvu d'un élément de mise en prise de charge peut se déplacer entre une première et une deuxième position, l'élément de verrouillage étant entraîné vers la première position par un élément de sollicitation, et un élément d'entraînement pour déplacer l'élément de verrouillage de la première à la deuxième position, où un élément de guidage est fourni et dont la surface est arquée de manière que l'élément de verrouillage se dirige vers une position de non mise en prise de charge à mesure qu'il se déplace le long de l'élément de guidage.

French Abstract

A locking apparatus for retaining a load on a vehicle wherein a locking member which has a load engaging element is moveable between first and second positions, the locking member being urged to the first lock position by a biasing member, and a drive member to move the locking member from the first position to the second position, there being provided a guide member which has a arcuate surface such that the locking member is moved to a non-load engaging position as the locking member moves along the guide member.

Claims

The embodiments of an invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is
claimed is defmed as follows:
1. ~A locking apparatus for retaining a load on a vehicle, said locking
apparatus
comprising:
a locking member having a load engaging element moveable along a path from
a first position to a second position;
biasing means biasing said member to said first position wherein said load
engaging element engages a load to be retained;
drive means to move said locking member from said first position to said
second position against said biasing means;~
guide means mounted that when said guide means moves said locking member
from said first position to said second position, said load engaging element
moves in
an arcuate movement to a non-load engaging position.
2. ~The locking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a
spring member biasing said member to said first position.
3. ~The locking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a
pneumatically operated cylinder.
4. ~The locking apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said locking member further
includes a roller, said guide means being located such that said roller will
engage said
guide means to thereby cause said roller and locking member to move outwardly.
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Description

CA 02198784 2004-02-24
ROLL-ON ROLL-OFF CONTAINER HOOKS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a locking apparatus and more particularly,
relates to a locking apparatus suitable for retaining of a container on a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the transportation industry, containers are often rolled on and off of
trucks.
It is necessary to provide a secure means of retaining the container on the
truck.
SLTIviMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking apparatus which
may be used to secure containers to a truck.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking
apparatus for retaining a load on a vehicle, the locking apparatus comprising
a locking
member having a load engaging element moveable along a path from a first
position to
a second position, biasing means biasing the member to the first position
wherein the
load engaging element engages a load to be retained, drive means to moue the
locking
member from the first position to the second position against the biasing
means, guide
means mounted that when the guide means moues the locking member from the
first
position to the second position, the load engaging element moues in an arcuate
movement to a non-load engaging position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
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CA 02198784 2004-02-24
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus of the present
invention
mounted on a rail designed to receive an article to be retained;
Figure 2a is a perspective view of the locking apparatus in a load retaining
position;
Figure 2b is a side elevational view thereof;
Figure 2c is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 3a is a perspective view similar to Figure 2a with the spring biasing
member being shown;
Figure 3b is an expanded view showing one end of the spring;
Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating movement of the locking member;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the locking member in a locking
position;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view thereof; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 4 illustrating the unlocking
motion of the load retaining portion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto,
there is illustrated a locking apparatus which is generally designated by
reference
numeral 10.
Locking apparatus 10 is shown mounted on an angle iron 14 while reference
numeral 12 designates a portion of a truck mast.
A locking member generally designated by reference numeral 16 is mounted on
shaft 18. Locking member 16 includes a body portion 20 from which extends
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CA 02198784 2004-02-24
outwardly arm 22. At the distal end of arm 22 there is provided a hook 24
which
fonctions as a load engaging element.
The locking apparatus 10 also includes a pneumatic cylinder generally
designated by reference numeral 28. Pneumatic cylinder 28 includes an outer
housing 30 surrounding a coil spring member 32. Coil spring 32 is mounted at a
first
end as indicated by reference numeral 34 to locking member 16. At the other
end, as
designated by reference numeral 36, spring 32 is connected to portion 36 of
pneumatic
cylinder 28. An air supply hose 40 is provided for pneumatic cylinder 28.
Body portion 20 of locking member 16 includes a rouer 42, the arrangement
being such that roller 42 moues along an edge of angle iron 14 to which the
locking
apparatus 10 is mounted. It will be noted that, as may be best seen in Figures
2B
and 2C, that locking apparatus 10 is mounted to have a longitudinal center
fine which
is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of angle iron 14.
A guide member 44 is mounted on angle iron 14. An aperture receives and
guides shaft 18. Guide member 44 includes an arcuate surface generally
designated by
reference numeral 46 (best seen in Figure 5) such that as locking member 16
moues,
roller 42 will contact surface 46. This will then cause body portion 42 to
moue
therealong resulting in arm 22 and hook 24 moving upwardly and outwardly. In
operation, as long as air pressure is applied to air supply hose 40 and
pneumatic
cylinder 28, locking member 16 is retained in the position shown in Figure 7
wherein
arm 22 and hook 24 stand outwardly from angle iron 14 and rail 12. However,
upon
the release of air pressure, body portion 20 and shaft 18 will moue to the
opposite
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CA 02198784 2004-02-24
position due to the biasing force of biasing means which comprises spring 32.
As may
be seen, due to the offset nature of locking apparatus 10, the load engaging
element
comprising hook 24 will moue to exert a retaining force on a container rail.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment if for purposes of
illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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