DE29518569U1 - Device for the transport of light general cargo - Google Patents

Description

TRCont90/DE-GM

16.11.95

Facilities for transport
of light general cargo

The invention relates to a device for transporting bulky, light piece goods on loading areas with a structure adapted to the goods, in particular with a container structure on a chassis.

The transport of general cargo has developed enormously over the past 50 years. Trucks of various sizes, from 3 to 40 tonnes, with sometimes extremely large loading volumes, have become established. In the lower weight classes, small trucks and so-called delivery vans are very common. Although there are exceptions, it can be said that the loading volume increases with the permitted tonnage. This makes sense when you think of goods such as rocks or machines. However, there is a complete disproportion when it comes to insulating materials, for example. Depending on the special material properties, the weight of 20 to 30 m3 of insulating material is less than two tonnes. The truck that is usually used for such a quantity could easily carry 20 tonnes. The effective loading weight to the possible loading weight is in a ratio of more than 1:10. Such transport is at least fundamentally not economical, all the more so as transport with heavy trucks is more expensive. According to available statistics, the average mileage of light trucks and delivery vans in Switzerland is around ^13,100 km per year, which is very much in contrast to popular belief. There is a simple fact behind this. In order to be able to meet all possible transport tasks, every company has a larger

Number of trucks of various sizes and bodies in relation to the number of drivers. If a driver is travelling with a truck, the customer pays the costs for both the truck and the driver.

For short journeys, the loading and unloading time can be a very significant cost component. In recent years, many loading aids have been developed, especially truck cranes and hydraulically raised and lowered loading platforms, etc. However, for bulky, light goods, the loading or unloading time itself is often not very critical. As is sometimes observed, a large amount of insulation material can be unloaded or thrown out of the vehicle in a very short time. The subsequent dry storage for days or weeks is often not a solution, especially when it comes to construction sites.

A similar problem, which has been solved quite successfully, exists in the transport of light consumer goods between central warehouses and large sales centers. The goods are loaded in the central warehouse using special combitrailers and the entire truck body is parked on two wheels and support legs at the sales center until it is unloaded by the sales center staff. Here the truck consists of two vehicles, the actual truck or towing vehicle at the front and a single-axle loading part or semitrailer at the rear. This solution has proven itself, but requires two essentially identical loading and unloading points, in particular hard surfaces at both locations, as well as building dimensions for the size of trucks. As far as the applicant is aware, such combitrailers are not used for construction sites. There are probably several reasons for this. The purchase price of truck bodies is relatively high because they are custom-made and leaving them standing for days would be too expensive. However, the special truck is particularly expensive. In this case, both the motorized towing device and the truck body are expensive. In most cases,

For a few tons of goods to be transported, a truck with a payload of 20 tons or more is used.

The inventors have recognized that there is currently no sensible concept for light, bulky goods weighing less than 8, and in particular less than 4, tons that allows both "economical" transport and longer downtimes of several days, or even weeks. In particular, there is a lack of a large, light transport aid that can be moved between completely different local conditions, e.g. for small moving tasks, but also between a production facility for insulation material and a construction site or a farm and a large distributor. It has been shown that there is actually no economically viable "goods logistics" for light, bulky goods, a goods logistics system that optimally transports and stores the goods from production to final processing.

The invention was based on the task of improving the entire goods logistics for bulky, light goods, especially for large volumes, and above all to provide a maximum transport service with a minimum of investment expenditure, e.g. from the producer to the final processor, for transport weights of less than 8, in particular less than 4, tons total weight.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it has a removable platform with a possibly adaptable structure and bearing points, which can be quickly mounted on supports or a chassis that can preferably be pushed under the platform with its own, particularly small-stroke, lifting and lowering device and can be transported by a light motor vehicle. It is very advantageous if the length of the supports is adjustable, e.g. with the system of the well-known Adria construction supports. This also allows the loading area to be placed in an optimal position and the

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To adapt the height of each support to the terrain and, for example, to bring the platform into a horizontal position.

The invention further relates to a chassis for the transport of bulky, light piece goods on loading areas, with a structure adapted to the goods, in particular a container structure, and is characterized in that it has a particularly small-stroke lifting and lowering device with several support points and, when the lowering device is in the lowered position, can preferably drive under a loading area supported on the ground, wherein the lifting and lowering device can be used to lower the loading area onto the chassis or to lift it off the chassis.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a loading area for the transport of bulky, light piece goods on a chassis, wherein the loading area has a structure, in particular a container structure, and is characterized in that the loading area is designed as an interchangeable platform, which has bearing points that are suitable for placing on corresponding lifting and lowering supports of the chassis, as well as supports for supporting on the ground.

The inventors recognized that the development of the entire transport system was based on the overall development of the last few decades. This had two main features, namely ever faster, ever larger. Considerably large areas of goods handling were no longer taken into account. These are bulky, light goods and, in particular, the time factor. Today, it is no problem to transport even the largest volumes quickly over long distances. However, the problems often only begin once the goods have reached their destination, as the acceptance of large volumes can often no longer be planned in advance. The vehicle often has to stand still for an excessively long time at the destination, so that a vehicle becomes a very expensive stationary vehicle. The new invention solves the time problem in a very economical way by proposing four key points in particular in combination:

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- Since large-volume light goods are targeted, the chassis
by a small truck of e.g. 3.5 or 7 tons
or a light motor vehicle such as a delivery van, towing vehicle
Jeeps etc. can be moved from place to place.
the motor vehicle itself is designed according to the invention.

- The loading area is designed as a swap platform and can
placed on the ground using supports or with a
Chassis can be connected.

- the chassis can support the firmly supported on the ground
Drive under the platform.

- The chassis has a small-stroke lifting and lowering device
and enables the driver to
further assistance (such as crane, forklift, etc.) to the respective
Change {standing vehicle) quickly and in one-man operation,
i.e. by one person easily and without any particular danger
to be carried out, since the lifting and lowering device only
a stroke of about 30 to 40 cm, i.e. the length of one foot.

In normal operation, the lifting and lowering device according to the invention has the sole function of changing the platform from the standing vehicle to the vehicle and vice versa. It is therefore much more cost-effective than the known loading devices such as cranes, forklifts, etc. and is an integral part of the chassis.

The surprising advantage is that a company, including a rental or transport company for large-volume light goods, no longer needs to keep 15 trucks, but rather a few light trucks or just a few towing vehicles that are able to pull a three to four ton trailer, as well as a few special trailers or chassis and 15 or more loading areas with superstructures. Since the costs for the loading area with superstructure or corresponding containers are only a fraction of the cost of a light motor vehicle, these can be placed on supports at the destination very inexpensively until they are completely emptied. For many tradesmen, it is common for a significant part of the assembly materials and the tools required to be transported daily.

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sometimes even twice a day from the company headquarters to the construction site. According to the new invention, the new interchangeable container takes on this function. The number of containers, chassis and towing vehicles required depends on the specific circumstances. The invention allows a whole range of other advantageous uses. For example, the structure can be designed as a barrack, which is supported on preferably height-adjustable support legs when stationary and is towed using a chassis or a light motor vehicle when moving to the next moving point or construction site.

The structure can also be designed as a container that is used as a transport vessel between dissimilar locations and for example, filled at the producer for light agricultural consumer goods, for furniture removals or for light industrial goods such as insulation materials, placed on a chassis and transported at least part of the way to the destination with a light motor vehicle. The chassis can be a trailer of lightweight construction or part of the light motor vehicle.

The invention also allows the platform to be designed to be placed directly on the loading area of a means of transport or on the ground, so that, for example, for long distances, the piece goods are transported by rail wagon and reloaded using a crane hook or forklift. It is also possible for the structure to be designed as a trade fair container, so that the light parts required for a trade fair stand or sales stand are transported and the platform with structure is used as a trade fair stand or part of a trade fair stand or sales stand. The platform with structure thus has a very effective dual function, both as a standing object and as a vehicle, whereby handling and intermediate storage are optimized, particularly in environments with unfavorable transport infrastructure, without compromising the possibility of using classic transport technology.

The invention also proposes a whole number of advantageous designs of the device or equipment. A motorized lifting and lowering device engages via bearing points and is designed for synchronous lifting and lowering of the bearing points. The lifting and lowering device preferably has four bearing points distributed over the container base area, to which pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, air spring cushions, spindle motors or threaded spindles engage, preferably in a synchronously controllable manner. For higher demands, it is possible for the adjustment motors for leveling the container to be synchronously adjustable as a group of two or individually. The lifting and lowering device can, however, be equipped with a motorized or manually driven scissors or even with a support mast with a cable winch. The bearing points are advantageously arranged in the outer quarter of the container and designed as cross beams, with the bearing points each being arranged in the outer end areas of the cross beams. The bearing points are formed on two wooden profile cross beams, into which the supports can be inserted via horizontal support arms. It is very useful if a centering funnel is arranged in the middle area of each of the two cross beams, for catching a centering bolt arranged on the chassis, or for pushing and setting down the container on the chassis in a defined manner. The chassis can be designed as a two-axle trailer, with two support axles on which lifting devices are arranged, preferably with two hydraulic cylinders each, as well as a centering device arranged in the middle of each support axle, with the two support axles arranged in the two outer quarters of the container. It is also possible to build the trailer as a one-, two- or three-axle vehicle. It is particularly preferred that both the platform and the supports are designed symmetrically so that both pulling directions can be used identically.

For the most universal handling possible, it is further proposed that crane hooks be installed on the ceiling of the container, preferably in two transverse planes, which include the storage points or storage axes, and between the storage points

Contact surfaces and a distance (A) for forklift access are arranged. This means that the container according to the invention can also be transported or reloaded in the known manner by rail or large trucks. A mechanically or hydraulically operated holding device, preferably designed as a snap hook, is arranged between the container and the chassis, which preferably engages the centering funnels. If the container often has to be placed in very tight spaces, it is recommended to arrange maneuvering rollers on the supports in such a way that they can be inserted or lowered as required. The container can only be moved into the best possible position with the towing vehicle. The precise positioning, e.g. turning up to 90°, can then be done manually using the maneuvering rollers. This is a great advantage in very tight spaces, as is almost always the case on construction sites or exhibitions or when moving furniture in urban areas.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using some embodiments. They show:

Figure 1 shows the basic components of the new invention;

Figures 2, 2a and 2b are variants of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows some examples of different structures on
a platform;

Figure 3a shows a possible use for tilting the platform;

Figure 4 shows an example of the use of the invention in
Case of a rental company for any
Calls;

Figure 5 shows an example of storing and transporting
of light industrial goods such as insulation materials;

Figure 6 shows a container on supports on the
ground supported;

Figure 7 a container directly on the ground or the
Loading area of a large transporter or railway wagon
placed;

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Figures 8, 8a and 8b show details of the support of the

Platform;

Figure 9 shows the connection between container and trailer;
Figure 10, 10a shows the securing of the platform on a chassis,
on a larger scale;
Figures 11, 11a and 11b show various motor means for the

lifting and lowering device;

Figures 12 and 12a show a scissor table and a support mast solution respectively
for the lifting and lowering device.

Reference is now made to Figure 1, which shows the interaction between the standing vehicle and the vehicle. A platform 1 has a container structure 2 or is designed as a container 2 and is supported on supports 3 on the ground 4. A chassis 5 is designed in Figure 1 as a trailer 6, which can be attached to a towing vehicle 8 via a trailer 7. The trailer 6 is designed as a two-axle vehicle, with the trailer 7 additionally being able to be supported via a known, height-adjustable support wheel 9. The chassis also has a lifting and lowering device 10, which in the starting position (Figure 1 top center) is in the lowered position or inactive and can be pushed under the platform 1 according to arrow 11. If the chassis 5 is positioned approximately under the change position under the platform 1, the lifting and lowering device 10 is operated via a hydraulic pump 12, which now moves hydraulic cylinders vertically upwards until the platform is completely supported by the cylinders and the supports 3 are lifted off the ground 4. The supports 3 are then removed and the platform 1 is lowered onto the chassis as shown in Figure 1, left center of the image. The chassis 5 and the platform are now ready for a change of location, so that, as marked with arrow 13, a correspondingly full or empty container can be attached to the towing vehicle 8 with the trailer 6. Preferably, however, the platform is firmly connected or secured to the chassis beforehand as shown in Figures 10, 10a.

Figures 2, 2a and 2b show further interesting possibilities using a light truck 14. Figure 2 shows a light truck 14 with its own lifting and lowering device 10. Instead of the trailer 6, in Figure 2 the correspondingly designed light truck with its chassis 6 drives under the container structure, whereby the loading can be carried out in exactly the same way as shown in Figure 1. Figures 2a and 2b show a third possibility of how two containers (2, 2') can be advantageously transported simultaneously on a trailer 6 and a light truck 14.

Figures 3 and 3a show some examples of structures in different sizes. 20 designates a low, open structure on a platform 1, especially for goods that do not need to be protected from rain. The side walls can be as high as desired up to the permissible height, so that, for example, light scaffolding material can be placed vertically or diagonally in a correspondingly open container 20. 21 designates a structure enclosed in a tarpaulin. 20' and 21' show correspondingly shortened forms. The structures can, however, have any shape and size, they just have to be usable together with the platform in accordance with the invention. Figure 3a shows that with a suitable design of the lifting and lowering device, the platform can even have a tilting function for very special cases.

Figures 4 and 5 show two areas of application for the new invention. A transport or rental company can therefore manage a larger number of platforms with a specifically adapted structure for transport. The structures can be of any size and shape, e.g. as open or closed containers and as construction huts, as employment containers, sales stands, etc. The invention assumes that the individual containers are usually set up in the same place for several days or even several weeks, or supported on the supports, until they are moved to another work location.

Since the containers only cost a fraction of the price of tractors or small trucks, the total investment for a transport service that is possible in practice is very small. In particular, the user has the option of leaving the container on site for as long as he wants, according to his work schedule, at low cost. The time the container is left standing and the transport can be optimized in this way. For example, in many cases it is not a problem if the container stays on site for a longer period, be it a few hours or days, before it is moved again, in order to organize the transport service more efficiently, especially with regard to the time of day.

Figure 5 is an example of a company that, for example, has to ship insulation materials to a wide variety of locations across a country. Since insulation materials are usually shipped in uniform forms, whether in bags or packages, the new invention opens up a surprisingly interesting solution. The insulation materials are filled into waterproof containers directly by the manufacturer without pallets and transported to the construction site or processor in the amount of the container. As will be shown below, the container can be moved or parked as required both for transport logistics and for any downtime. However, if a good transshipment infrastructure is already available at a location, e.g. at railway terminals, this can also be used for transshipment in the form of a crane or forklift truck.

Figures 6 and 7 show a closed container solution. In Figure 6, the container 2 is supported on the floor 4 by four height-adjustable supports 3.

In Figure 7, however, the container 2 is placed directly, i.e. without supports 3, on the floor 4'. The floor 4 can be the loading area of a railway wagon, a heavy truck, the ground itself or the roof part of another container if empty containers are stacked on top of each other. It is important that the platform in the structural design meets all

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possible uses. This applies in particular to the various loading options, e.g. via crane hook 30 or using a forklift truck in relation to a free ground clearance A for loading forks 32. As can be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the superstructures can, for example, have a waterproof, profiled shell 31, in particular made of light materials such as aluminum. The entire superstructure is preferably designed as a plug-in profile and allows special needs to be met as well as possible with a modular system that can be put together in as many variants as possible.

Figures 8, 8a and 8b show the transition area between the chassis 5 and the platform 1 with any structure. The exemplary example shows four support plates 40, 40' and 41, 41', each of which is arranged in an outer quarter of the platform. Two bearing points are located in each bearing axis, a first bearing axis 42 and a second bearing axis 43. Aligned with the two bearing axes, the platform has a hollow profile support 44 or a hollow profile support 45, to which the bearing plates 40, 40', 41, 41' are firmly welded at the bottom. Four hydraulically actuated cylinders 46 are also mounted on the chassis 5, arranged accordingly, and are used to raise and lower the platform 1. The lifting and lowering device 10 can be constructed in any way. It is important, however, that all movements can be carried out in a coordinated manner on at least one side. The use of four simple screw jacks would only be sufficient in very few cases. Particularly if the ground is slightly yielding, there is a risk that if the four lifting or lowering devices are operated individually, some of them will be pressed more firmly into the ground. Between the two support plates 40, 40' of the same bearing axis there is also a centering funnel 47 in which a centering cone 48, which is firmly attached to the chassis 5, engages. Due to the interaction of the centering funnel 47 and the centering cone 48, the platform centers itself before being placed on the chassis. The centering cone and centering funnel also serve as a safeguard against the platform moving.

Platform 1 opposite the chassis once the two are connected.

Figure 9 shows a container 2 shortly before being lowered onto the chassis 5, with a distance of &khgr; between the two. The dimension "&khgr;" is not an exact value and varies slightly with each change. The dimension &khgr; is the dimension for raising or lowering the platform with each change. The dimension X can be around 30 to 40 cm, normally even less than 30 cm.

Figures 10 and 10a show the situation of a platform 10 that is lowered onto the chassis. Figure 10a shows an enlarged view of a safety system, whereby a snap hook safety device 51 is activated on both sides via a double-acting cylinder 50. A corresponding clamping wedge 52 engages in the slope of the respective centering funnel 47 and additionally secures the connection between the platform and chassis. It is also possible to attach a chain safety device 51 as a secondary safety device, for example. The activation can be carried out via electric or hydraulic pumps (not shown).

Figure 11 shows a variant with pneumatic cylinders 60, which are supplied with compressed air by a compressor and are operated via a corresponding simple control. Since in Figure 11 and in the following solutions both a trailer and a motor vehicle are equipped according to the invention, a chassis adaptation 61 and a chassis adaptation 62 are proposed for the respective vehicle types or trailer types. Above the vehicle adaptation 62 or chassis adaptation there is a platform 1, which can be designed in accordance with the previous examples, with system anchoring and a centering unit. In contrast to Figure 11, Figure 11a shows an electric spindle motor 65 and Figure 11b shows an air spring cushion 66, as is known, for example, from truck suspensions. The functionality is the same in all three cases. According to an example not shown, however, in particular in emergency situations, the

Raising and lowering is done via electrically or manually driven winches.

This can be done by first lifting the platform at the back with the winch, inserting the supports and then lowering the platform onto the supports. The same procedure is then followed at the front. This applies to the trailer as well as to the motor vehicle.

In Figure 12, the lifting and lowering is carried out using scissors 70, which are driven by some motor means 71, e.g. electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically or via a cable winch. The scissor solution is also particularly suitable for the use of manual spindles. A scissor table is only shown schematically for the trailer. At least for longer lengths, however, a scissor would preferably be arranged in the area of each support plate 40, 41 or 40', 41', as is indicated for the truck. Two of them can have a common drive shaft, e.g. in the transverse direction to the vehicle.

Figure 12a shows a variant with a retractable support mast 80, over which the lifting and lowering movement is carried out via a cable winch 81 with a double cable pulley. A cable 83 is guided over a pulley 84 and secured to a suspension hook 82. This solution is also suitable not only for motor operation but also particularly for manual operation. Manual operation has great advantages for the trailer in every version, since the trailer normally does not have its own motor drive.

Claims (1)

TRCont90/DE-GM 16.11.95 Protection claims 1. Equipment for the transport of bulky, light general cargo, with a chassis and body adapted to the general cargo,
characterized, that it has a change platform with preferably adaptable structure and bearing points, which can be quickly assembled or disassembled for a change either on supports or a chassis with its own lifting and lowering device and can be transported by a light motor vehicle. 2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized, that the structure is designed as an open or closed container, as a structure that can be used as a sales stand, as a moving container or as a construction site hut for tradesmen or offices. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized, that the motorized lifting and lowering device engages three or more bearing points and is designed for synchronous lifting or lowering of the bearing points, wherein the supports are preferably designed to be adjustable in length in order to adapt to different terrain levels. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized, that the lifting and lowering device has at least three bearing points distributed over the container base area, at which hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, air cushions, spindle motors or threaded spindles can be controlled synchronously. -16- 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized, that the adjustment motors for leveling the container can be adjusted synchronously as a group of two or individually. 6. Device according to claim 1,
characterized, that the lifting and lowering device has a motor-driven or manually driven scissor table or a support mast with cable winch. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized, that the bearing points are arranged in the two outer quarters of the container, each designed as a cross member and the bearing points are each arranged in the outer end areas of the cross member. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized, that the bearing points are formed on two wooden profile cross beams in which the supports are preferably fixed in a plug-in manner. 9. Device according to claim 8,
characterized, that a centering funnel is arranged in the middle area of each of the two cross members, for catching a centering bolt arranged on the chassis, or for pushing with the dead weight and defined setting down of the container on the chassis. -&Pgr;&igr;&ogr;.
Device according to one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized, that the chassis is designed as a two-axle trailer, with two support axles on which a lifting device is arranged, as well as a centering device arranged in the middle of each support axle, with the two support axles being arranged in the front and rear quarters of the container respectively. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized, that crane hooks are arranged on the ceiling of the container, preferably in two transverse planes, which enclose the storage areas, and/or that contact surfaces for forklift access are arranged between the storage areas. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11,
characterized, that a mechanically or hydraulically operated safety device is arranged between the platform and the chassis, which preferably engages the centering funnels. 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized, that maneuvering rollers are arranged on the supports, which can preferably be used or lowered to the ground when required. 14. Facility as a chassis for the transport of bulky, light general cargo on loading areas with a body adapted to the goods, in particular a container body, characterized, that it has a lifting and lowering device with several support points and that when the lowering device is in the lowered position, it can drive under a loading area supported on the ground, whereby the lifting and lowering device can be used to lower the loading area onto the chassis or to lift it off the chassis. · . f &iacgr; 15. Device as a loading area for the transport of bulky, light goods on a chassis, the loading area having a superstructure, in particular a container superstructure,
characterized, that the loading area is designed as an interchangeable platform, which preferably has three or four bearing points that are suitable for placing on the chassis's lifting and lowering supports, as well as for supporting it on the ground.