GB961959A - Vehicle movers - Google Patents

Abstract

961,959. Vehicle movers. K. D. METAL Ltd. March 6, 1961 [March 7, 1960; July 1, 1960], Nos. 8068/60 and 23170/60. Heading B7H. [Also in Division B4] A vehicle mover comprises a beam-like member having one or more movable elements and one or more other elements, so that the front or rear wheels of a motor vehicle may be confined between the movable element(s) and the other element(s). Fig. 1 shows a truck having a frame 1, driven wheels 2, a platform 3, and castor wheel 4. The wheels 2 are driven through irreversible reduction gearing 5 and a flexible shaft 15 by an electric motor 11 which can be clutched either to the shaft 15 or to an hydraulic pump 10 which can supply fluid to three jacks 6 on frame 1 supporting a platform 7 with a turntable mounting 8. Electricity is supplied through a cable 13 from a fixed station, e.g. in a garage, any cable slack being wound on a self-coiling drum at the station or on the truck. The beam-like structure is pivotable on the mounting 8, and one form is shown in Fig. 2. A central structure 16 on the turntable 17 supports two trays 18, each adapted to receive a wheel of the vehicle, the trays being of sufficient width to accommodate different track width vehicles. A flap 19 on each tray is raised to retain the wheel when on the tray. A tool is described (see Division B4) for manually levering the wheels on to the trays, the latter resting on the ground. The jacks 6 are then extended to raise the trays and wheels, whereafter the track can manoeuvre the vehicle. An alternative beam-like structure is shown in Fig. 6, where a central structure has fixed laterally extending elements 41, and movable elements 42 pivotable on pins 43 by rods 47, crosshead 46, rod 45, and hand lever 44. In use, the structure is offered up to the vehicle with the members 42 in the broken line positions 42<SP>1</SP> until members 41 abut the wheels. Members 42 are then moved to the position shown by lever 44 and retained by a ratchet device 48, 49, to enclose the wheels. The members 41, 42 may be circular, rectangular, or triangular in section. In a modification, the members 42 are retractable into the central structure, and are extended manually or hydraulically when the wheels abut members 41. Movement of members 42 may be automatic in response to such abutment. The beam-like structure may be raised or lowered by raising or lowering wheels on the truck relatively to the truck frame. A switch may limit the raising of the beam.