Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
  • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
  • B60P1/64—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading the load supporting or containing element being readily removable
  • B60P1/6418—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading the load supporting or containing element being readily removable the load-transporting element being a container or similar
  • B60P1/6472—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading the load supporting or containing element being readily removable the load-transporting element being a container or similar fitted with articulated boom load arms for lateral displacement of the container

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a lifting arrrangement for transport goods upon loading/unloading, e.g. of a goods contai ⁇ ner, said lifting arrangement preferably being mobile and mounted on a transport vehicle.
• freight containers are wide-spread and has the advantages of a low cost through a simple construction, a high security in consideration of handling the goods and of unauthori ⁇ zed access to the goods as well, high flexibility in use not only for transporting, but also as long time storage and as mobile workshops etc.
• the freight container is available in standardized lengths of 10, 20, 30 and 40 ft, and has gussets or receptacles in its upper and frequently also in its lower corners for the attachment of chain hooks and container yokes for lifting and for securing during transport.
• trackbound transversing cranes are mostly used to perform the lifting and transfer of goods, whereas there is a more frequent need for mobile lifting devices on transport vehicles in smaller sized depots and at receiving sites.
• One existing mobile lifting device comprises two identical cranes, slidably arranged on a frame of a lorry or trailer.
• the spacing of the cranes is adjustable for use with containers of different lengths, e.g. 20 or 40 ft.
• These crane devices has telescopically extendable support members or legs, and are hydraulically operative and controllable from a remote control device.
• One of the disadvantages connected with abovementioned lifting device is its ability to load/unload cargo exclusively to one side of the towing vehicle, mostly to the left side of the lorry or trailer. It is realized that this lack of flexibility leads to time consuming dispositions in goods transfer and to less financial benefits from the operation. Furthermore, the operator is likely to get a feeling of uncertainty whereas the vehicle is to be advanced on the "wrong" side of the road, when loading/un ⁇ loading at a traffic loaded site.
• the object of the invention is therefore to provide a lifting arrangement for a transport vehicle, allowing for loading/unloa ⁇ ding to any desired side of the towing vehicle and not requesting any excessive roofspace when operating a cargo container at a location with limited roofspace.
• Fig. 1 an elevational view from behind of a lifting arrangement according to the invention, with a hoisted container
• Fig. 2 a view in correspondance to fig. 1, the lifting arrange ⁇ ment shown with one support member lowered in preparation for transfer of the container to an adjacent transport vehicle or a loading platform, the lift beam extended to a maximum for visibility,
• Fig. 3 the lowering of the container, stepwise and in three positions
• Fig. 4 the support member in an alternative embodiment, pivoted and extended to bear against the ground
• Fig. 5 the support member in another alternative embodiment, in resting and operative positions
• Fig. 6 a diagram of the hydraulic system which operates the lifting arrangement.
• the lifting arrangement according to the invention is hereafter generally referred to as reference number 1.
• the lifting arrangement or lifting device 1 comprises four main elements: the lift beam 2, the support members 3,4 and a horizontally disposed support beam 5, in which the lift beam and support members are journalled for pivoting movement in a vertical plane.
• the support beam 5 has a U-shaped cross section and receives, pivoting around a pivot 6, one resp. support member 3,4 in each end of the beam.
• the lift beam 2 is pivoting on a pivot 7.
• the lift beam 2 is telescopically extendable and has preferably a square cross section, alternatively though a cylindrical cross section can also be foreseen.
• the lift beam has a number of internal piston means 21,22.
• the extension/retraction of the piston means 21,22 is performed by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 23.
• the lift beam 2 comprises a pair of attachment means 24,25, disposed on opposite sides of the lift beam. Said attachment means form the anchorage of a pair of telescopically extendable connection arms that interconnect the lift beam with each one of the support members, as described more in detail below.
• an eye 26 adapted for the attachment of a chain with hooks, in operation anchored in the lower corner receptacles of the container, the chain shown in fig. 2 with a broken line 27.
• a container yoke can be applied and connected to the upper corner receptacles of the container. To a man skilled in the art the latter is a con ⁇ ventional procedure and is therefore not shown in detail in the drawings.
• the support members 3,4 are identical in shape and construction, and only support member 3 will be described in detail and with reference made to fig. 2, wherein the support beam 5 is partly broken away for better visibility and disclosure of the con ⁇ struction of the lifting arrangement 1.
• the support member 3 comprises a beam 30 with square cross section, preferably telescopically extendable by way of an internal, extendable piston means 31.
• the beam 30 has in its inner and lower end a pair of substantially triangular shaped plates 32, disposed in parallell and constituting a journal bearing for a pivot 6, as well as for a pivot 33, the later used for pivoting attachment of a hydraulic cylinder 34.
• the cylinder 34 is double-acting, the piston-end of the cylinder pivotally journalled in the support beam 5 on a pivot 35.
• the plates 32 has an angular shape that locates the pivot 33, disposed in the innermost apex of the triangular shaped plates in the upright resting position of the support member and facing the center of the lifting device, on the inner side of the longitudinal axis of the support member in said position.
• a favourable moment of force is thereby ensured for the cylinder 34, operative to secure the support member in its lowered position in which the support member can be said to constitute the base of a triangel formed by the pivots 6, 33 and 35.
• the support member 3 In its outer, and in the resting position upper end, the support member 3 comprises a shoe 36 having an arcuate sole 37, and a pair of attachment means 38, arranged on the top side of the support member when lowered to the operative position.
• the shoe 36 In an embodiment where the support member is extendable through the piston means 31, the shoe 36 is of course mounted in the outer end of said piston means.
• connection arm 10 is pivotally received in the attachment means 38, whilst the other end of said connection arm is pivotally received in the attachment means 24 of the lift beam 2.
• An identical connection arm 10' is correspondingly arranged between the attachment means 25 of the lift beam 2 and the other support member 4, the later comprising identical details as disclosed with reference to support member 3.
• Transferring a container from a lorry, having a pair of lifting arrangements 1 includes the following steps as shown also in fig. 3 of the drawings: Support member 3 is lowered through extension of connection arm 10 until the support member bears on the ground or floor, in which position the support member is secured by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 34. In this secured position, the support member provides a rigid, non-pivoting extension of the support beam 5 through the fixedly positioned pivots 6, 33 and 35. The container is then hoisted through extension of the lift beam 2, until the container is floating above the lorry-bridge, in practice appr. 50 mm. This first step I is shown with continous lines in fig. 3.
• the lift beam 2 is lowered towards the support member, and simultaneously extended in order to maintain the container at a constant level during the movement, until the container is free of the lorry.
• the lift beam is pushed beyond the vertical line by activating the connection arm 10' on the opposite side of the vertical line, in order to displace the center of gravity towards the lowered and secured support member 3, the later gradually receiving an increasing part of the load upon the lowering and extension movement of the lift beam.
• fig. 3 is shown in broken lines the second step II of the coordinated lowering/extending movement, whereupon the container is brought to swing freely at the side of the lorry.
• step III is shown in dash-dot lines in fig. 3.
• a lifting arrangement 1 can be slidably mounted on a lorry-bridge and thus adaptible for containers of varying lengths and standards.
• the lowering angle of the support member is limited by the length of the fully extended connection arm 10,10' , which makes this embodiment adapted to be used preferably in combination with a lorry-bridge of a kind that is hydraulical ⁇ ly activated to be lowered to the ground from a transportation level, through the operation of a link arms system.
• a such combination removes the need of a support member with an ability to bear on the ground, lowered from transportation height of the bridge.
• the later could also be an alternative em ⁇ bodiment, without departing from the scope of invention.
• the support member 3' ,4' is telescopic and extendable in multiple steps and comprises a pair of extendable piston means 41,42, and an internally arranged hydraulic cylinder 43 activating and controlling the extension of the piston means.
• the shoe 44 is e.g. pivotally attached at the end of piston means 42 as suggested in the drawing, thereby being adjustable to bear properly on the ground. It is clear that this embodiment might request a connection arm 10' having additional extension sections to provide the neccessary length for lowering the support member to a proper inclination to bear on the ground or floor.
• the outer end of the support member 4' ' comprises a pivotally attached U-shaped beam 45, said beam being foldable to bear on the ground under formation of a "knee" of the support member with the connection arm 10' pivotally attached to the top of the knee.
• the web of the U-shaped beam 45 is of a length suitable to rest with the end edge of the web against the shoe 46 of the support member in the folded position of the beam 45, as is shown at 46 in fig. 5.
• the need for a connection arm of excessive length is removed in this construction. Securing the U-shaped beam in the folded position is e.g. performed through a linked rod 47, interconnecting the U-beam and the support member.
• the lifting arrangement 1 is hydraulically actuated through a hydraulic pump, driven by the transport vehicle or by a separate drive unit.
• the two lifting devices of the vehicle are simultane ⁇ ously operated through valves, actuated in parallell, and the lowering and extension movements of the lift beam 2 are coordina ⁇ ted manually via remote control or automatically via a prestored control process and a joy-stick.
• Input to the automized process is provided by position indicating means, arranged to detect the lowering angle and extension of the lift beam and promoting a substantially horizontal transfer movement of the cargo contai ⁇ ner.
• the lifting arrangement 1 is operated in a load dependant hydraulic system and comprises a pump 102 delivering constant volume, driven by a motor 101, e.g. a motor of the transport vehicle.
• a pressure regulator 103 is used to balance the system and connects the system to the tank, thus preventing an overload when all directional switches 104-108 are in neutral positions.
• the system further comprises an accumulator 109 with pressure gauge, pressure regulator, actuating valve etc. as conventional and familiar to a man skilled in the art of hydraulics.
• the accumulator is pressurized over a biased non-return valve 110 and an actuator 111.
• the directional switch 104 activates the cylinder 34 on the left hand side of the drawing via a pair of non-return valves, applied to the piston and piston-rod sides, respectively.
• Said non-return valves are by-passed over a resp. pressure controlled regulator valve so that, upon extension of the cylinder 34, the non-return valve of the piston-rod side opens for back-flow as a result of the added pressure on the piston side. Similarly, the non-return valve of the piston side opens as a result of the added pressure on the piston-rod side upon retraction of the cylinder 34.
• the regulator and non-return valves of the cylinder 34 are commonly referred to as 112 and the corresponding components of the cylinder 34' on the right hand side of the drawing, controlled by the directional switch 108, are commonly referred to as 113. If cylinder 34,34' is overloaded, the biased pressure regulator valve on the actual side of the piston opens, and in their neutral positions the directional switches 104 and 108 interconnect the piston and piston-rod sides as well as the tank.
• the cylinder 23 of the lift beam is actuated through the directional switch 106, and comprises on the piston side a non ⁇ return valve and a pressure controlled regulator valve, in the drawing commonly referred to as 114. In the neutral position, the directional valve 106 is connected to tank.
• connection arms 10,10' are actuated through the directional valves 105 and 107, respectively.
• the connection arms are cross- connected, the valve 105 connecting in one position (see B in fig. 6) the pressurized side of the system to the connection arm 10', and in the same position setting connection arm 10 in fluid flow connection with the tank.
• the fluid is forced through a non-return valve which is by ⁇ passed over a biased pressure regulator valve, the later also controlled via the pressure of a pilot conduit (dashed line) which is linked to the conduit leading to connection arm 10, see reference number 115.
• a pilot conduit dashex conduit
• connection arm 10 is connected to the system pressure, and the pressure regulator valve 115 opens as a result of the added pressure of the pilot conduit, linked to the conduit of the connection arm 10, causing the connection arm 10' in fluid flow connection with the tank via the pressure regulator 115 and directional switch 105. In its neutral position, the later has a closed centre. A corresponding operation is found with the directional valve 107 and pressure regulator 116, the construc ⁇ tion leading to a composite and coordinated actuation and operation of the connection arms 10,10' upon lowering and raising of the lift beam 2.
• the hydraulic diagram of fig. 6 also shows electro-magnetic and pressure-controlled directional switches and non-return valves for fast actuation of the lifting arrangement 1, e.g. to be used upon a reset to the resting position.
• electro-magnetic and pressure-controlled directional switches and non-return valves for fast actuation of the lifting arrangement 1, e.g. to be used upon a reset to the resting position.
• a full disclosure of these components is however not required for an understanding of the operation of the arrangement.
• the accumulator 109 via pressure actuated non-return valves, flow control conduits and electro-magnetically controlled directional valves assembled into logical units 117, 118, 119 and 120, is connected to the cylinders 34,34' and to connection arms 10,10' to provide, when desired, an increased flow rate enough to operate the lifting arrangement at high speed in an unloaded situation.
• the directional switches 104-108 are electro-magnetically actuated and can be operated via a remote control unit, hand held by the operator, as per se is known and conventional.
• the directional switches of the hydraulical system are operated by electric step motors controlled via signals from an actuating unit, said signals being modulated in a prestored control process and a processor in accordance with the actual positions of the operation cylinders, as detected by correspon ⁇ dent position detecting means.
• this kind of operative control is a well known technology and in the current application used for controlling the extension of the lift beam 2 in relation to the pivoting angle, in order to provide a substantially horizontal movement of the cargo upon loading and unloading.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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• 1994
  • 1994-01-13 EP EP94908532A patent/EP0737136A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-01-13 AU AU61585/94A patent/AU6158594A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-01-13 WO PCT/SE1994/000019 patent/WO1995019275A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1996
  • 1996-07-05 NO NO962847A patent/NO962847L/no unknown
  • 1996-07-12 FI FI962831A patent/FI962831A0/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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