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
  • B60P1/54—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using cranes for self-loading or self-unloading
  • B60P1/5438—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using cranes for self-loading or self-unloading with a moveable base
  • B60P1/5442—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using cranes for self-loading or self-unloading with a moveable base attached to the roof of the vehicle
• • 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
  • B60P1/44—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element
  • B60P1/4414—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element and keeping the loading platform parallel to the ground when raising the load
  • B60P1/4421—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element and keeping the loading platform parallel to the ground when raising the load the loading platform being carried in at least one vertical guide

Definitions

• This invention relates to load-carrying bodies for road transport vehicles.
• GB 2279917B describes a vehicle goods storage system which in one form has a
• an opening such as the usual rear-end body opening.
• Fork lift trucks and similar road-lifting devices, can be used but these devices may
• An object of the present invention is to provide a device to facilitate movement of
• the body is elongate and has the opening at one end whereby loads, can
• the first guide path may extend horizontally and may be a straight path
• the second guide path may extend vertically and also may by a straight
• first and second guide paths provision may be made for movement of the
• the loading structure may be further positional adjustable, or adjustable
• the loading structure may be movable sideways, and/or may
• This further positioned adjustment may be used to bring the loading structure to a
• the first guide path extends throughout substantially all, or at least a major part of the length of the body, and the load supporting structure is movable along
• the second guide path should extend at least from the middle of the height
• the first guide path extends overhead i.e. at or adjacent the first guide path
• roof or other upper extremity of the body preferably so as to he above the tops of load stacks within the body.
• Movement along the first guide path may be guided in any suitable manner.
• Movement along the first guide path may be guided in any suitable manner.
• guiding is achieved with one or more rollers or carriages or the like running along one or more tracks. Other arrangements may also be used.
• the first guide path comprises at least one track mounted relative to the body, and preferably there is a pair of tracks which may be mounted at or adjacent the
• body roof preferably respectively on or adjacent opposite side walls of the body.
• the (or each) track of the first guide path may be telescopic or hinged or
• Movement along the second guide path may also be guided in any suitable manner.
• Guiding may be achieved simply by relying on gravity to restrain or influence movement
• one or more guide tracks may be used.
• a telescopic arrangement of guide tracks for example one or
• a pair of telescopic side-by-side guide tracks is used. This can permit retraction to clear lower loading areas and to facilitate storage.
• Movement along the second guide path may be manually or power effected and, in
• the downward direction may be effected or activated by gravity.
• a winch arrangement is used to power upward movement
• gravity may be rehed on to effect downward movement.
• Multiple coaxial cylinders may be used to give a long travel, and the cylinder arrangement may act as its own guide track.
• the first guide path comprises a pair of overhead tracks on or adjacent opposite side walls of the body
• the first guide path extends along one side wall only of the body. Conveniently there may be at least one track mounted along the side wall, and
• track may extend at least substantially horizontally preferably along substantially all, or at least a major part, of the length of the side wall.
• the (or each) track may be telescopic or hinged or otherwise may have an
• the load supporting structure may be mounted relative to the (or each) track e.g. via an arm (or a respective arm) to permit guided movement of
• the load supporting structure between positions interior to, and exterior of, the body, or
• movement along the first guide path may be guided and may be manually effected or powered as described above.
• second guide path preferably occurs externally to the body adjacent the said one side wall
• the load-supporting structure is movable
• the second guide path may comprise one or more upright guide tracks and movement of the
• load-supporting structure may be guided by one or more upright supports running along
• these upright guide track or tracks of the second guide path extend along at least a major part, and preferably substantially all, of the height of the
• Movement of the load-supporting structure may be manually effected, or powered
• the load-supporting structure may be a platform or open-work frame or forks or the like.
• the structure is preferably hinged or otherwise movably mounted so that it can be folded flat or upright for storage.
• the body may be an integral or removable body of a trailer or lorry or other wheeled road transport vehicle.
• Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a road vehicle having one form of a load moving device according to the invention
• Figures 2 & 3 are respectively diagrammatic rear end and plan views of the
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a detail
• Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a road vehicle with an
• this shows a road vehicle having a chassis 1, a cab 2, and road wheels 3 on which the chassis is mounted via a suspension system.
• a rectangular body 4 having side walls 5, a front end wall 6, a floor 7, and a roof
• the rear end 9 of the body is open but is provided with a
• the vehicle can be used to transport loads 11 stored within the body, and the
• the drawings show a load moving device to help loading and unloading the body.
• This device has two overhead guide tracks 12 which run horizontally along the length of the body between the front wall 6 and the rear opening 9.
• These tracks 12 may comprise box-section members 13, as shown if Fig.4, fixed to the side walls 5 immediately
• the moving device also has a load supporting structure 15, which in this case
• This fork structure 15 is mounted at the lower extremity of a vertical support arrangement 16 which is attached at its upper extremity to a frame 17 which consists of two spaced
• spacing of these members 18 is smaller than the spacing of the overhead guide tracker 12
• extension members are longitudinally slidably connected to
• the frame 17 can therefore move horizontally towards and away from an outermost position as show in Fig. 3, further outward movement of the frame being
• the forks structure 15 faces inwardly towards the body.
• the vertical support arrangement which interconnects the frame 17 and the fork
• structure 15 comprises a hydraulic cylinder arrangement fixed at its top end to a slidable turntable 21 which is mounted on the Unk members 19 so as to permit axial rotation of the
• the cylinder arrangement 16 consists of multiple coaxial cylinders with a pressurised oil feed line (not shown) connected to the lower extremity of the arrangement 16.
• the fork structure 15 When pressure is released, the fork structure 15 can drop under gravity to the
• the cylinder arrangement 16 contracts lifting the fork structure 15 to an uppermost position which may be level with the middle of the height of the body i.e. at a position level with the entry spaces of the uppermost pallets.
• a reliable lock or brake or the like may be provided to ensure holding of the fork structure 15 in a selected elevated position.
• a protected, retractable flexible pipe line may be provided (not shown) for
• the movement of the slidable turntable 21 maybe manually effected, or if desired there may be power assistance which may be electric or hydraulic.
• power assistance which may be electric or hydraulic.
• This may be an electrically or mechanically operated lock or brake.
• the movement of the extension member 18 along the guide track members 13 may also be manually effected or power assisted and a releasable lock or brake may also be provided.
• the fork structure 15 can be moved
• the body close to the front end wall.
• the fork structure 15 can be positioned at any height between
• the fork structure 15 can be manoeuvred to pickup stacked loads from all side by side and upper and lower locations within the body and move the loads to drop - off locations externally of the body whether level with the floor of the body, or at the level of the ground surface behind or at the side of the body.
• loads can be stacked within the body by transfer from adjacent pick-up
• the fork structure 15 can be stowed wholly within the body by moving the extension member 18
• means of extension such as tracks which have main parts within the body and pivotally attached rear end sections, whereby the transverse link members 19 slide within the body along the main parts of the tracks and slide externally of the body along the end sections
• the fork structure 15 may be connected to the link members 19 via a pair of vertical spaced apart telescopic slide tracks
• hinged components are also possible.
• FIG. 5 this shows a van-bodied load-carrying road vehicle having
• the van body has a floor 105, roof 106, opposite upright side walls 107, 108, a
• Each guide track 109, 110 is a metal channel section which has an open slot 111
• a load-supporting structure 112 in the form of a platform is suspended from an
• the guide structure 113 comprises two vertical spaced-apart upright tracks 114,
• the upright tracks 114, 115 are channel sections having open slots 118 along their
• outer faces i.e. those faces which are directed away from the members 116, 117 and the side wall 107.
• the upright tracks 114, 115 are fixed to end regions of the members 116, 117 so that the members project beyond the tracks 114, 115 at a common side and terminate level
• the projecting portions 119, 120 of the members 116, 117 extend freely into the tracks 109, 110 on the side wall 107 and slidably engage inner surfaces of the tracks via
• rollers or carriages on the members 116, 117.
• the top and bottom peripheries of the upright tracks 114, 115 are spaced inwardly
• the upright tracks 114, 115 are spaced in front of the members 116, 117 e.g. by
• fixing brackets (not shown) or are otherwise configured so as to permit sliding of the structure 113 within the body 102 along the tracks 109, 110 with the members 116, 117
• the platform 112 is suspended from the upright tracks 114, 1.15 by upright solid
• the platform hinges 123 are also linked by a link bar 125 and the platform 112 can pivot downwardly to a horizontal disposition, further pivoting then being prevented.
• the link bars 124, 125 are spaced away from the members 121, 122 and the hinges
• the members 121, 122 are shorter than the upright tracks 114, 115, say about half
• the members 121, 122 are at or close to the upper ends of the tracks 114, 115,
• An upright hydraulic ram 126 with 2: 1 advantage is fixed at its upper end to the upper member 116 between the upright tracks 114, 115. At its lower end the ram 126 is
• the platform 112 may be held in an adjusted position by brakes or locks (not
• the drawing shows the platform 112 located in a lowermost position on or
• the upright tracks 114, 115 are clo sely adj acent to the side wall 107 with the open
• the projecting portions 119, 120 of the members 116, 117 extend into the side
• the platform 112 can now be lifted to a position level with the floor 105 to assist
• the members 116, 117 can be driven along the tracks 109, 110 to move the upright tracks 114, 115 and the platform 112 into the body 102.
• the platform 112 can be lifted and lowered as desired to assist in transfer of loads between the platforml 12 and high level stacks or shelves within the body 102.
• the lengths of the projecting portions 119, 120 of the members are sufficient to
• the platform 112 When not in use the platform 112 can be moved to a position wholly within the
• the platform 112 can be held in an upright stored position by a
• the tracks 109, 110 are mounted on the side wall 107 and the guide structure 113 is an essentially flat structure closely adjacent the same side wall 107 thereby taking up

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
• Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)
• Loading Or Unloading Of Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29404290

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2003
  • 2003-04-25 GB GB0424457A patent/GB2403939B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-04-25 EP EP03720737A patent/EP1499516A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-04-25 AU AU2003224312A patent/AU2003224312A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-04-25 WO PCT/GB2003/001812 patent/WO2003093055A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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