GB2129402A

GB2129402A - Vehicle loading system

Info

Publication number: GB2129402A
Application number: GB08230158A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Howard; David Mackrill
Original assignee: MACKRILL ENGINEERING Ltd D
Current assignee: MACKRILL ENGINEERING Ltd D
Priority date: 1982-10-22
Filing date: 1982-10-22
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: GB2129402B

Abstract

A vehicle loading/unloading system is intended to enable loads to be loaded onto vehicles from a position lying transverse to the rear of the vehicle, such as when unloading railway wagons. The vehicle includes load handling means 1-6 mounted on the vehicle towards the forward end and a jack 3 for operating the load handling means. The load handling means includes an L-shaped member 2 pivotably carried on a frame. Operation of the jack causes the L-shaped member to which the load 20 is attached to move between an upright transport position towards the front of the vehicle and an inverted pick up position towards the rear of the vehicle. At the rear of the vehicle is a guide 8, 48 which moves up and down and/or side to side to align the guide with the load and the load with the vehicle. The load has a connection member 10 which is attached to the L-shaped member 2, end the connection member can swivel about a vertical axis. The connection member can also move sideways relative to the load. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle loading system This invention relates to a vehicle loading system and in particular to apparatus for unloading a load from the side of a vehicle onto another vehicle in situations where access cannot be gained to the end of the vehicle from which the load is to be removed.

In unloading railway vehicles such as wagons, it is not usually possible for access to be gained to the end of the wagons due to the presence of other wagons coupled thereto. Consequently vehicles having load handling apparatus adapted to load and unload over the rear of the vehicle have hitherto been unable to unload or load such railway wagons and it has been necessary to employ cranes or other cumbersome units to remove the entire load onto a vehicle for road transport. It is apparent that a great saving of expense and time would be achieved if it were possible to effect side unloading using a vehicle having the load handling facility to unload and to load onto the vehicle. Moreover such a vehicle would enable the location of the unloading operation to be relatively unconstrained since the unloading apparatus can be readily moved with the vehicle to the desired unloading position.

In our prior European patent application, published under No. 0025322, we have described a vehicle of the kind having load handling apparatus intended to load and unload containers or the like over the rear of the vehicle. An object of the invention is to devise a loading system using this kind of vehicle in the side unloading of vehicles such as railway wagons.

According to one aspect of the invention a vehicle loading system comprises a vehicle having handling means mounted on the vehicle and including an L-shaped member, the free end of one arm of which is connectable to a load and L-shaped member being pivotable about a first generally horizontal pivot at the free end of the other arm of the member, a first frame to one end of which said first pivot is mounted, the first frame being pivotable about a second generally horizontal pivot towards the other end of the first frame, and first jack means connected at one end to the vehicle and at the other end to the L-shaped member through a link so that upon extension of the jack means the L-shaped member pivots about the first pivot and then about the second pivot to move the load rearwardly of the vehicle and to lift and then lower the leading end of the load during said rearward movement, the load comprising a connection member at one end of the load connectable to the free end of said one arm, the connection member being rotatable about a generally upright axis.

Preferably the free end of said one arm of the L-shaped member is formed with a hook and the load connection member includes a generally horizontal bar engageable by the hook. In this case the bar is carried on a mounting rotatable about said upright axis.

The mounting may be movable relative to the load in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the load so as to be locatable at selected positions in the transverse direction, that is in a central position, at positions towards the longitudinal sides of the load, or at any position intermediate the central and side positions.

Conveniently the mounting is movable along guides inclined downwardly towards the sides from a central region when the load is in a generally horizontal position.

Preferably the vehicle includes guide means for the load at its rearward end, the guide means being carried on a guide support member movable up and down to raise and lower the guide means.

The support member is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis, the guide means being remote from said axis so that on pivoting of the support member the guide member is moved up and down. Conveniently the support member is movable transversely of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Preferably the handling means includes second jack means connected at one end to the link and at the other end pivotable about the second pivot, the link extending between the L-shaped member and the first frame at positions spaced from the first and second pivots. Extension of the second jack means when the second frame is pivoting about the second pivot extends the reach of the L-shaped member to the rear of the vehicle and gives a near vertical movement in this region.

Preferably the load includes a pivotal securing member located towards one end of the load whereby during an initial stage of the unloading onto the vehicle the load is secured by the member to its supporting surface but is free to pivot about an upright axis of the securing member.

According to another aspect of the invention in a method of operation of a vehicle loading system, a vehicle having a generally L-shaped lifting member movable between a generally upright position at the forward end of a vehicle load bearing platform and a generally inverted position towards the rear end of the loading platform and having a connecting member at one of its ends for attachment to a load, is positioned with its rear end adjacent the longitudinal side of the load towards one end thereof and the vehicle extending generally transverse to the side of the load, the connecting member is attached to the load at said one end with the L-shaped lifting member in the inverted position; the load is pivotally supported on a supporting surface for pivoting about an upright axis located towards the end of the load remote from said one end of the load and adjacent said longitudinal side thereof; the connecting member is raised by movement of L-shaped member towards said upright position to raise the load at said one end thereof, and by movement of the vehicle in its forward direction and/or by movement of the connecting member towards the vehicle, the load is pivoted about its pivotal support towards a position of alignment of the longitudinal direction of the load with the fore and aft direction of the vehicle.

Pivoting of the load may be continued until the load is fully aligned with the vehicle whereupon the load is released from said pivotal support and the lifting member is moved to its upright forward position, during which movement the load is drawn forwardly over the rear of the vehicle onto the load bearing platform.

Alternatively the load may be pivoted to a position in which said one end is projecting transversely outwards from its initial position, and the connecting member is released from the load after supporting said one end, as may be necessary. Subsequently the same vehicle or another vehicle is manoeuvred into a position aligned with the load in which position the connecting member may be attached to the load with the lifting member in the inverted position and, after attachment, the lifting member is moved to said forward upright position drawing the load over the rear of the vehicle onto the load bearing platform.

The method preferably includes positioning a support located on the vehicle towards the rear thereof in contact with the underside of the load during the action of drawing the load over the rear of the vehicle.

Thus by means of the vehicle positioned to the side of a load the load may be loaded onto the vehicle by simple adaptation of vehicle handling apparatus.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle loading system, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the system of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an end elevation of means by which a load is connected to a vehicle during loading, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a rear end of the vehicle.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, a vehicle is shown which is generally of the form shown and described in our prior European patent application published under No. 0025322.

The vehicle has a chassis 14 to the rear of the vehicle cab 11. A load handling system includes a sub-frame 9 rigidly mounted on the chassis 14, and the sub-frame 9 extends along the chassis from a position spaced from the rearward end up to the cab 11.

A Y-shaped lift frame 6 is supported on the sub-frame 9 for pivoting about an axis G and the lift frame 6 extends forwardly from pivots 1 5 secured to the sub-frame 9. Towards the forward end of the frame 6 are horizontal pivots 1 6 having an axis B to which is pivotally attached an Lshaped member 2. The member 2 has a forwardly extending arm 17 and an upwardly extending arm 1 8, when the member 2 is in an upright forward position as shown by full lines in Fig. 1. The arm 1 8 has a hook 1 at its upper end and the free end of the arm 1 7 is attached to the pivots 1 6.

In the full line position of the member 2, as shown in Fig. 1, the member 2 is in a transport position and the handling system is also shown in chain lines in an intermediate position A' and in an inverted load pick up position A", as will be described. A load 20 is shown in a transport position on the vehicle and in a demounted position on an elevated surface to the rear of the vehicle. At the forward end of the load 20 is a lifting bar 10 which is engageable by the hook 1 and, as will be described, the bar 10 swivels about a vertical axis. The load 20 may take any convenient form but is generally rectangular in plan view having longitudinal sides 20A and ends 20B. The underside of the load is fitted with rails or runners (not shown) which engage with rollers 8 on the vehicle.

Connected between the L-shaped member 2 and the lift frame 6 is a linkage, including interconnected tie rods 4 and a rocker 5. The rocker 5 is pivotally mounted at one end about a pivot 21, having an axis F, to the lift frame 6, the pivots 21 being spaced forward from the pivots 1 5.

The tie rods 4 are of generally inverted U-shape in cross-section and are each pivotally mounted at one end on the arm 1 7 of the L-shaped member 2 by a pivot 22 having an axis E which is spaced forwardly from the pivots 1 6. The tie rods 4 and the rocker 5 are pivotally interconnected at their other ends by a shaft 23 having an axis D.

A jack in the form of two hydraulically-operated piston and cylinder devices 3 is connected with its cylinders 3A pivotally mounted on the sub-frame 9 about an axis C and its piston rods 3B pivotally mounted on the shaft 23. As shown in full lines in Fig. 1 the jack 3 is in its fully retracted position.

The devices 3 each lie beneath and in general alignment, seen vertically, with one of the rods 4.

A stop 25 is provided on the sub-frame 9 to engage the underside of the arm 1 7. Similarly a stop (not shown) restricts the downward movement of the lift frame 6 relative to the subframe 9.

A ram 30, in the form of a hydraulically powered piston and cylinder, is mounted with its piston rod 30A pivotally mounted on the shaft 23 and its cylinder pivotally mounted on the pivot 1 5.

The ram 30 is extended when the L-shaped member 2 is in a transport position and is retracted as the member 2 adopts the intermediate position shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter the ram 30 may remain retracted or the ram can be extended to modify the arc of movement of the hook 1 which will approximate to that shown at A'-A" in Fig. 1.

The load 20 comprises a frame or rack in which a plurality of packages or pallets are received and the forward end of the frame has an upward extension 20C on which the bar 10 is located. In the version shown in Fig. 1 the bar 10 is located on a mounting 1 OA which is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on the extension 20C at a central position across the width of the load 20.

By the pivotal mounting the bar 10 may be presented to lie parallel to, inclined to, or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the load. Detents may be provided to locate the bar 10 in either one of these positions.

As shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 the load 20 is mounted on a railway wagon 45 on rails 46 and lying generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle prior to unloading the wagon 45. During transport of the load by the wagon 45 the load is secured to the wagon at each of its corners by locking means 47. The locking means 47 comprise locking elements which are selectively engaged in openings in the load frame. At least one of such locking means 47 is especially arranged that, with the other locking means disengaged, the load frame is pivotable about a generally vertical axis of the locking means, the locking means also permitting limited movement of the frame vertically about the locking means, for reasons which will become apparent.Such one locking means is located at 47A which is at the end of the load remote from the bar 10 and at the longitudinal side adjacent the rear end of the vehicle, as shown.

The pair of rollers 8 is located on shafts 13 towards the rear end of the vehicle and the rollers 8 are mounted on a frame 48 pivotally supported on a horizontal pivot 49 situated to the rear of the axis 1 5. The frame 48 is raised and lowered about the pivot by one or more hydraulic jacks 50 extending between the vehicle chassis 14 and the frame 48 to thereby raise and lower the rollers 8 relative to the vehicle. The frame 48 may also be mounted for translation transversely of the vehicle to adjust the position of the rollers 8 in this direction by means of a further transversely located jack (not shown).The adjustment of the position of the rollers 8 relative to the vehicle affords the facility for positioning the rollers under the load when the load is still supported at one end on the wagon 45 and is misaligned relative to the rear end of the vehicle, as will be described.

It will be appreciated that the railway wagon 45 will, in practice, be one of a row of coupled wagons so that access to the end of the wagon will not be possible. The load handling system described enables the load to be offloaded from the wagon onto the vehicle from the longitudinal side of the wagon.

For an unloading operation to take place the vehicle is positioned with its rear end adjacent a sideof the wagon and towards the end of the load at which the bar 10 and mounting 1 OA are located. The vehicle extends generally transverse to the side of the wagon and the L-shaped member 2 is pivoted to the rearwards inverted position shown in Fig. 1 in which the hook 1 is at location A". The hook 1 is engaged under the bar 10 which lies generally in the fore and aft direction of the wagon at this stage.

Three of the locking means 47 are released thereby freeing the load from the wagon except at position 47A. The member 2 is then pivoted towards position A' and during this movement the forward end of the load is lifted off the wagon and is pivoted about the locking means 47A.

Simultaneously with the movement of the L-shaped member 2 the vehicle may be driven forward away from the wagon to move the forward end of the load away from the wagon.

Limited manoeuvering of the vehicle and movement of the member 2 moves the load to a position 20" shown in Fig. 2 in which the load projects with its front end clear of the side of the wagon. At this point the front end of the load may be supported on the ground by supports 54 extending downwardly from the sides of the load and the hook 1 may be released from the bar 10 so that said front end is wholly supported by the supports 54.

With the load supported at one end on the wagon 45 and at the other end on the supports 54 and with the load projecting at an inclination from the side of the wagon the vehicle, or a different, but similarly equipped vehicle, can be driven into a position in which the vehicle is generally aligned with the load with its rear end adjacent the forward end of the load. In this position the hook 1 is readily reengaged with the bar 10, lying transverse to the load, and the L-shaped member 2 is pivoted towards a forward upright position, thereby drawing the load over the rear of the vehicle and onto the load bearing surface provided by the vehicle. Before this movement the locking means 47A is released and the rollers 8 are raised to support the rear end of the load.It will also be appreciated that when engaging the hook 1 with the bar 10 in the aligned position of the vehicle the mounting 1 OA is rotated for the bar to lie in a transverse position relative to the longitudinal direction of the load.

Instead of supporting the forward end of the load on the ground to align the vehicle with the load the vehicle can be aligned with the load without disconnection of the hook 1 by driving and steering the vehicle relative to the wagon and by manipulation of the movement of the L-shaped member 2. In this action, to assist in loading the vehicle even when the load is not completely aligned with the vehicle, the position of the rollers 8 may be adjusted, as described, for positioning under the load.

In some circumstances it may not be possible for the hook 1 to reach across to the central part of the load at which the rod 10 is situated, as shown in Fig. 1 , for example when overhead electric cables are present, or when the jack 30 is retracted during the latter part of the rearward movement of the member 2. In this case the position of the rod 10 may be adjustable across the width of the load. One suitable arrangement for this purpose is shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 3 a frame 55 at the forward end of the load includes a guide track 56 for a trolley member 57. The track 56 includes vertically-spaced beams 58 inclined downwardly to each side from a central horizontal region. The trolley member 57 includes rollers 59 engaging with the lower beam 58 and located between side plates 60. Further rollers 61 on each side plate 60 engage the lateral sides of the upper beam 58, and the rollers 59 and 61 enable the trolley member to move along and be guided by the track 56 between a central position and positions at opposite ends of the track 56.

The rod 10 is mounted on a mounting 1 OA pivotally secured to the trolley member 57 about a vertical axis.

The arrangement enables the trolley member 57, and thereby the bar 10, to be located towards a side edge of the load during an initial stage in the unloading operation, closer to the vehicle than when in the central position. However during the unloading operation, due to the inclination of the beams 58, the trolley member 57 will tend to move towards the central position when the load is generally aligned with the vehicle.

By means of the load handling system described a load on a railway wagon, or on another surface by which access to the end of the load is restricted, can be readily unloaded and loaded onto a vehicle using a load handling system mounted on the vehicle. This is achieved without modification to the railway wagon and without any undue height penalty over the wagon.

The system is also capable of returning the load from the vehicle to the wagon or the like by a reverse procedure to that described. Alternatively the load on the vehicle can be unloaded onto the ground or onto another elevated surface to the rear of the vehicle in conventional manner.

The vehicle can be adapted for other uses by use of the means shown in Fig. 4 which illustrates the rear end of the vehicie. The frame 48 carrying the rollers 8 is, in this arrangement, fitted with an extension 61 rigidly secured to the frame 48 and movable therewith on operation of the jack 50 in the up and down direction. The extension 61 is directed downwardly and has a rearwardly projecting portion 62 at its lower end which is fitted with a towing bracket 63 or the like. By this means the vehicle can be used to recover another vehicle which has, for example, broken down, by hitching the vehicle to the bracket 63 and then operating the jack 56 to lift the front end of the broken down vehicle.

By inverting the location of the extension 61 on the frame 48, as shown at 61', or by fitting a different crane member the jack 50 can be used to operate the extension 61 as a crane, for example for unloading the packages from a load placed on the ground.

It will be appreciated that instead of having the bar 10 associated with a mounting pivotable about a vertical axis, in certain circumstances a fixed mounting may be used. In this case the bar 10 may be generally U-shaped having a portion, forming the base of the U, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the load and the limbs of the U lying longitudinally. The hook 1 can then be selectively connected to the transverse or longitudinal portions. Alternatively two bars one transverse and one longitudinal can be provided, each selectively engageable by the hook.

The vehicle may be fitted with means for inhibiting the raising of the forward end of the vehicle as the load is moved over the rear of the vehicle. Such means may be conventional jacking means arranged to engage the ground to the rear of the vehicle. Alternatively when a tandem axle arrangement is employed for the rear wheels, the rearmost wheels may be secured in relation to the chassis to provide a vehicle support spaced more towards the rear of the vehicle than in the conventional arrangement.

Claims

1. A vehicle loading system comprising a vehicle having load handling means mounted on the vehicle and located towards the forward end of the vehicle, an actuating device for the load handling means whereby upon connection of the load handling means to a load and operation of the actuating means a load located adjacent the rear of the vehicle can be loaded over the rear of the vehicle towards the forward end of the vehicle, the vehicle also comprising guide means at the rear of the vehicle for guiding the load in its passage from the rear of the vehicle towards the forward end of the vehicle, the guide means being movable up and down and/or from side to side relative to the vehicle during the loading operation to align the guide means with the load and the load with the vehicle.

2. A vehicle loading system according to claim 1 wherein the guide means is mounted on a guide support member pivotable about a horizontal axis.

3. A vehicle loading system according to claim 2 wherein the support member is movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

4. A vehicle loading system according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the support means carries towards its end remote from said axis guide rollers engageable with the underside of the load.

5. A vehicle loading system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the load handling means includes an L-shaped member the free end of one arm of which is connectabie to the load, the L-shaped member being pivotable about a horizontal axis by a jack, constituting said actuating means, between a generally upright position towards the forward end of the vehicle in which position the load is carried on the vehicle and a generally inverted position towards the rear end of the vehicle in which inverted position the L-shaped member is connected to the load to draw it over the guide means onto the vehicle.

6. A vehicle loading system according to claim 5 wherein the L-shaped member is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis at the free end of the other arm of the member and the handling means further comprises a frame to one end of which the free end of said other arm is pivotally connected, the frame being pivotable about a further generally horizontal axis towards the other end of the frame, the jack being connected at one end to the vehicle and at the other end to the L-shaped member so that, upon extension of the jack, the L-shaped member pivots about its pivotal connection to the frame and then about the further axis in unloading the vehicle to move the load rearwardly of the vehicle and to lift and then lower the leading end of the load during said rearward movement.

7. A vehicle loading system according to claim 6 wherein the load comprises a connection member at one end of the load connectable to the free end of said one arm, the connection member being rotatable about a generally upright axis.

8. A vehicle loading system according to claim 7 wherein the connection member includes a generally horizontal bar engageable by a hook at the free end of said one arm of the L-shaped member.

9. A vehicle loading system according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the connection member is movable relative to the load in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the load so as to be locatable at selected positions in the transverse direction.

10. A vehicle loading system according to claim 9 wherein the connection member is carried on a mounting movable along guides inclined downwardly towards the sides of the load from a central region.

11. A vehicle loading system according to claim 6 wherein the load handling means further comprises a further jack connected at one end to a link carried on the frame and at the other end about said further horizontal axis, the link extending between the L-shaped member and the frame, whereby extension of the further jack when the frame is pivoting about said further axis extends the reach of the L-shaped member to the rear of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle loading system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.