Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02210213 1997-07-11
A MANIPULATING DEVICE
T~IS INVENTlON relates to a manipulating device.
More particularly, thi~ invention relate~ to a manlpulatlng
device for manipulatlng a con~ainer.
According to ehe invention there is provided a
~an~pulating device for manipulatlng a container, the
manipulating device including
a support mean~ engageable with a support surface;
a aarrler mean~ for carryi~g the container; and
a displacement means for di~placing the carr~er means
relative-to the ~upport means bet~een a lowered loading
position ln ~hich the carrier mean~ re~eives the container
and a raised discharging po~ition in which the conCainer is
rai~ed above the lowered loading position and ig inclined at
an angle to the support surface to permit any material
within the container to b~ discharge~ therefrom ~nder the
operation o~ gravity.
The ~upport mean~ may be in the form of a base
~hich ex~end~, in use, ~ubstantially parallel to the s~pport
surface. The ~upport mean~ may include a ~tabilising ~eans.
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The stabili~ing meang ~ay comprise ~ er~ that are moveable
~et~een an operati~e stabili~ing condition in which the
members engage the ~upport surface and an inoperaeive
retracted condition~ The members ~ay be retractable and
secured to the base.
The support means may inclu~e a set of wheel~ on
which the bage rest~ ~hen the 8tabilising memb~rg are in the
inopera~i~e retracted condition, 60 that ~he de~ice iB
portable.
The carrier means may include a carrier structure
which defines a carrier ~urface for carrying the container.
The carrier structure may include a retaining means for
retaining the container on the carrier surface when the
~arr~er means i6 in it~ rai~ed dl6~harging po~ition.
The carrier ~tructure may include a central
portion which define~ the carrier su~face, and an end
portion ~h~ch i6 co-planar with a ~op surface of the bace
when the carrier means is in the lowered loading position,
whereby in use, the container is received on t~e end portion
and tran6ferred onto the carrier ~urface~
The carrier mean6 may include an engagement means
for releasa~le engagemen~ to a bot~om surface of a
container, with the engagement mean~ being 31idably mounted
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_ _ _ _ _
on ~he ~arrier ~tructure for asgisting trans~er of the
container onto the carrier surface.
The displacement ~eans may ~omprise a mechanical
arrangement interconn~cte~ be~ween the base and the carrier
means, and at lea~t one elevating msans for eleva~lng the
earrier ~ean~ from the lowered loading po~ition to the
raised discharging po~ition.
The mechanical arrangement may be pivotally
connec~ed to the base or to the carrier ~eans.
In one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical
arrangement may be a pluralicy of struts or a frame.
The e~e~ating mean~ may compri~e a tele~coping
ram.
The in~eneion i~ now descri~ed, by way o~
examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows a sche~atic three-dl~ensional view of a
fir~t embo~iment of a portable ~anipulating de~lce in a
raised di~charging position in accordance with the
invention;
Figur~ Z ~how~ a ~chemaeic three-dimensional view of
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the porta~le manipulating device aB ~hown in ~igure 1, in a
lowered loading po6ition;
Figure 3 sho~6 a ~chematic side view o~ a ~econd
e~ho~m~nt of a portable manipulating device in a rai~ed
discharg~ng po~ition in accordance ~ith the invention;
Figure 4 shows a schematic side ~iew o~ ~he portable
~anipulatin~ device a6 ~hown in Figure 3, in a lowered
loading po~ition;
Figure 5 ~how~ a 6chematic ~ide view of a third
em~odiment of a portable manipulating device in a raised
discharg~ng position in accordance with t~e in~ention; and
Figure 6 ~ho~s a schematic ~ide view of the portable
manipulating ~evice as 6ho~n in Figure 5, in a lowered
loading poQition.
Referr$ng to Figure~ 1 and 2, a fir~t embodiment
of a portable manipulating device, in accordance with the
invention, i~ designated by reference n~meral 10.
The manipulating de~ice lo includes a ~upport
~ean~ in the ~orm o~ a generally "U"-shaped base 12
engageable ~ith a ~upport surface ~not shown~, and a carrier
means in the ~onm o~ a carrier ~tructure 16 ~or releasably
receiving and carrying any container 20 having a 10 - 30
metric tonne ~ulk h~ndling capaci~y.
The manipulati~g de~ice lo f~rt~er include~ a
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d~.splacement mean~ comprising a mechanical arrangement 22
i~terconnected bet~een the ba6e 12 and the carrier ~truc~ure
16, a~d an elevating mean~ in the form of a pair of
hydraulic tele~coping ram~ 24 an~ 26 for elevating the
mecha~ical arrangement 22 and the carr~er 6cructure 16
respectively bet~een a lowered loading posi~ion (Figure 2)
in ~hi~h the carrier structure 16 receive~ the container 20
and a raised digcharging or tipping position (Figure 1) in
~ich the container 20 i5 rai~ed above the lowered loading
position and is inclined at an angle to the fiupport ~r~ace
to permit bulk ~aterial wit~in the container 20 to be
discharged therefrom under the operation of gravity.
The ba~e 12 include~ stabilising members i~ ~he
form o~ a pair of extension arms 27 that are connected close
to longit~ n~lly oppo~ed end region~ of the base 12 and
extend trans~ersely beyond the 6ides thereof. A re~ractable
foot 2~ i8 connected ret~actably to each end of each arm 27,
the feet 2a being movable between an operative stabili~ing
condition (Figures 1 and 2) and an inoperative retracted
condition ~not shown) by hydraulically operated mo~i~g
de~ice6 (not shown).
The oarrier structure 16 comprises a beam 30 and
three cross member6 32 which define a carrier ~urface 13 for
the contai~er 20 and whic~ are arranged at ~he end and
centr~l regions of the beam 30. The beam 30 is pivotally
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connected to the mechanical arrangemRnt 22. The length of
the bea~ 30 corre8pond~ ~enerally with the length of the
container 20. The carrier ~tructure 16 includes retalning
members ~no~ ~hown) for releasably retaining the container
20 thereon in u~e.
The mec~anical arrangement 22 i~ in the form of a
frame which comprise~ t~o pairs of po6t~ 40 an~ 42 that are
in~erconnected by tie me~bers 48 and 50 respectively In
particular, there are four tie members 48.1, 48,2. 48.3 and
48.4 and four tie mem~er~ 50.1, 50.2, 50.3 and 50.4. The
posts are pivotally connected to oppo6ing longiCudinal limb~
43 of the ba~e 12. More par~icularly, the post6 40 are
arranged at the free end~ of the limbs 43 and the poBt6 ~2
are a~ranged at a po~ition remote from the ~aid free ends,
the distance from the f~ee e~ds eorre6ponding approximately
to five eight6 of the length of the limb~ 43. Upper end~ o~
the po~s 40,1 and 40.2 are pivotally connec~ed to the upper
ends of the po~t~ 42.1 and 42.2 re8pectively by connecting
members 44 and 46.
The beam 30 i~ pivotally connected to a cen~ral
portion of the tie member 48.1 by a connector 52 that i~
f~st with the tie me~ber 48.1.
The ram 24 interconnect~ the tie members 50.4 and
48.1. The ram 26 interconnect~ the beam 30 and the tie
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~ember 50.2.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing~,
a second embodiment of the invention i8 described. With
refe~ence to Figure~ 1 and 2, like reference n~meral8 refer
to like part~ unles~ otherwi~e 6pecified.
The ~econd embo~;ment of the portab~e manip~la~in~
device in ac~ordance with the invention, i~ de~ign~ted by
re~erence numeral 60.
In this embodiment, the manipula~iny device 60 has
a displacem~nt mean~ which comprises a mechanical
arrange~ent 62 that interconnects the base 12 a~d the
ca~rier struct~re 16, and an elevating means including a
hydraulic tele~coping ram 64 that interconnects the ~a~e 12
and the mechanical arrangement 62 and a strut 66 th~t is
pivotally connected at its one end to the ba~e 12 and at its
other end eo ~he beam 30.
The mechanical a~rangement 62 ha~ a pair of posts
6~ and four tie ~ember~ (not ~hown) ~ha~ are interconnected
in a con~i~uration similar to tha~ of the pO~t6 40 and tie
member6 48. The po5t5 68 are pivotally connected to the
free endx of the limb8 43 .
The ram 64 interconnects a cros~ member (not
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~hown) which interconnects the li~b~ 43 approximately mid~ay
the~ealong and the operative uppermost tie member (not
~hown) of the mechanical arrangement 62.
Referring now to ~igures 5 and 6 of the drawings,
a ~hird e~bodiment of the invention i~ illus~rated. With
reference to Figures 1 and 2, like reference nu~erals refer
to like part~ unle~s otherwise ~pecified.
The third e~bodi~ent o~ the portable manipulating
device in accordance with the in~ention, i~ designate~ by
refe~ence numeral 80.
In thi6 embodiment, ~he support mean~ compriBes a
ba~e 81 having a pai~ of longieudinal limbs 82 extending
substantially parallel to each other ~nd to a ~upport
surface B4. A bri~ge piece 86 in~erconnect~ the lim~ 82.
The support ~ean~ al~o includes ~tabili~ing means ha~ing
ex~ension arms 8B which exten~ tran~versely from end~ of the
li~bs 82. A retractable foot 90 extend6 downwardly from
each of the a~m~ ~8 and the bridge piece 86 to engage the
support ~urfac~ 84.
A set of wheels 92 iB mounted to ~he ba~. The
s~abiliBing meanB i~ movable between an operative
stabilising condi~ion a~ 6hown in ~igure~ 5 and 6, and an
inoperative ret~acted condition ~not sho~n) by moving the
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feet 90 in the ~ireccion indicated by the arrowB 94. In
use, when t~e 6~abilising means iB in the inoperative
retracted ~ondi~ion, the base 81 re~t~ on the set of wheels
92 and the device 80 may ~e moved to a ~esired location.
In this embo~;ma~t the displacement ~eans includes
a mechani cal arrangement 96 comprising a pair of posts 98
extenA;ng upwardly from ~he end~ of the limb~ 82. Th~ post~
98 interconnect the base 81 ~nd a carrier struct~re 99. The
di~placement means further in~lude~ an ele~ating mean~ or
a hydrauli~ tele~coping ram lOO tha~ interconnects the ba~e
81 and the carrier ~tructure 99.
~ e carrier ~tructure 99 compri~e~ a central
portion 102 and a fir~t and a ~econd end portion 104 and
106, whi~h extend at angles to the cen~ral portion 102. The
central poreion 102 defineg the carrier ~urface 18. The
second end portion 1~6 i~ pi~otally connected to ~he posts
98 and 1~ aligned with them when the carrier structure 99 i~
in the raised di~charging po~ition as ~hown in Figure 5.
The fir~t end por~ion 104 is received between the
two limb~ 82 ~o extend co-planar to a top ~urface 10~ of ~he
ba~e 81 when the carrier ~tructure 99 i~ in ~he lowered
receiving position as ~hown in Figure 6. An engagement
~eans 110 i~ ~lidably mounted on the carrier structure 99.
The carrier ~tructure 99 al~o includes a ~ro~s ~ember 112
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for releasab~y retaining the container 20 on the carrier
surface 18 ~hen the carrier strueture 99 i~ in itB rai~ed
di~cha~ging po~ition.
In operation of the de~ice~ 10 and 60, the
con~ainer 20 is loaded onto the carrier ~tru~ture 16 of the
manipulating device 1o or 60 when i~ i~ in it6 lowered
loading po~ition ~Figures 2 and 4) by 6uitable container
handling equip~enc. The ~etaining members are then
manipulated ~o engage complementary ~ormations on the
concainer 20 to retain the con~ainer 20 on the car~ier
~tructure 16. In the loading po~ition, the carrier ~urface
18 i~ generally le~s than 1.5m abo~e the support surface.
In operation o~ the de~ice 80, it i~ positioned in
clo~e proximity co a low bed truck or other device on which
th~ co~tainer 20 is loc~ted, with the carrie~ ~tructure 99
being in ~he lowe~ed loading position. The engagement mean~
110 iR slid to ~he free end of the f irst portion 104. The
container 20 is moved onto the ba~e 81 by ~uitable handling
equipment until the engage~ent ~eans llO engage~ with a
~ottom 114 of the container 20. The container 20 i6 then
~l~d from the fir-~t end portion 104 onto ~he carrier surface
8 by ~uitable drive ~ean~, ~uch as a winch, which i~
connecta~le to the engagement mean~ 110.
With the device lo, ~he hydraulic ram~ 24 and 26
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a~e then p~e~suri6ed to displace the mechanical arrangement
22 and the carrier structure 16 in che directions of arro~s
54 and 56 re~pectively to the raised di~charglng position
(Figure 1) in ~hich bulk material in ~he container 20 can be
di~charged into an open topped or hatch covered bin carried
by a ~ehicle (not sho~n). O~ce t~e bulk material has been
di~charged, the ram~ 24 and 26 are de-pressuri~ed to re~urn
the device 10 to the loading position ~here the co~ainer 20
can be removed fro~ the carrier ~tructure 16 after
disengaging the retaining membe~ ~rom the container 20.
Wi~h the device 60, the hydraulic ra~ 64 i8
pressurised to displace the mech~nical arrangement 62 in the
direction of ar~o~ 70 which in turn cau~e~ the ~trut 66 and
wi~h i~ the carrier structure 16 and ~ontainer 20, to be
tisplaced in the direction of arrow 72 to the raised
di~charging position (Figure 3). Once the material ha6 been
dl~charged, the ram 64 can then ~e de-pre~surised to return
the device 60 to che loading po~ition.
With the device 80, the hydrauli~ ram 100 iB
pres~urised to di6place the carrier 6tructure 99 and the
container 20, in the direction o~ arrow 116 to the rai~ed
di~charging position (Figure 5). Once the mate~ial has been
diqcharged, the ram 100 ca~ then be de-pressurised to return
the device 80 to ~he loading position ~Figure 6~.
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~ l~he appl icant believes that t~e inven~ion i~
~dvantageou~ in that it eliminate~ the need to use costly
pumping equipment or ~crew conveyors usually applied to
dis~harge material from containers.
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