EP1499516A1

EP1499516A1 - Load moving device for transport vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1499516A1
Application number: EP03720737A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alan John Cartwright; Steven Cartwright
Original assignee: S Cartwright & Sons (coachbuilders) Ltd
Current assignee: S Cartwright & Sons (coachbuilders) Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-27
Filing date: 2003-04-25
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Also published as: GB2403939B; AU2003224312A1; WO2003093055A1; GB0424457D0; GB2403939A

Abstract

A road transport vehicle has a body (102) with a rear opening. A loading platform (112) is movable along a first guide path (109, 110, 116, 117) along the body and along a second upright guide path (114, 115, 121, 122). The first guide path extends out through the rear opening so that the platform (112) can be moved between a position within the body and a position out of the body for example at a ground surface below the load-supporting floor of the body at the rear of the vehicle. The first guide path may be defined by tracks (109, 110) on a side wall (107) of the body along which arms (116, 117) can run to extend beyond the rear opening. The second guide path may also be defined by tracks (114, 115) mounted on these arms (116, 117), along which run upright supports (121, 122) attached to the loading platform (112).

Description

LOAD MOVING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORT VEHICLES

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

platform which can move vertically and also horizontally along slide tracks mounted on

opposite side walls of a load-carrying vehicle body.

With this system stacking of loads within the vehicle body can be facilitated.

There is also a need to facilitate loading and unloading of a vehicle body through

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

not always provide a convenient means of moving loads between external support surfaces

and internal load stacks which may be located within the body spaced away from the body opening.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device to facilitate movement of

loads between external support surfaces and load stacks within load-carrying vehicle

bodies.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a load-moving device for a

load-carrying body of a road transport vehicle having an opening thereto, said device

having a load supporting structure mounted for movement along a first guide path extending within the body and also along a second guide path extending upright and

transverse to the first guide path, characterised in that the first guide path is also

extendable through and beyond the said body opening.

With this arrangement, in so far as the load supporting structure can move in and out of the body and also up and down, transfer of loads between internal load stacks and external load support surfaces can be facilitated.

Preferably, the body is elongate and has the opening at one end whereby loads, can

be picked up from, and deposited on successive stacks spaced along the length of the

body. The first guide path may extend horizontally and may be a straight path

throughout; and the second guide path may extend vertically and also may by a straight

path throughout. Other arrangements are however also possible.

Provision may also be made for movement additional to the movement along the

first and second guide paths. In particular, provision may be made for movement of the

load supporting structure from side to side, particularly horizontally, transverse to the first

guide path. This enables loads to be picked up from, and deposited on successive stacks spaced sideways i.e arranged side by side, as well as stacks spaced along the body.

Moreover, the loading structure may be further positional adjustable, or adjustable

in its orientation, to facilitate positioning of the structure relative to an adjacent external load support surface. Thus, the loading structure may be movable sideways, and/or may

be arranged to pivot or swing about an upright axis or along a curved path, and/or maybe

tiltable. This further positioned adjustment may be used to bring the loading structure to a

location not otherwise within the range of movement of the device, e.g to one side of the

body; or it may be used to facilitate close alignment with a load support surface at a

particular location and/or angular disposition.

Preferably 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

all or at least a major part of the guide path, to enable loads to be picked up and deposited essentially throughout the entire length of the body.

The extent of the second guide path, and the extent of movement of the load

supporting structure along the second guide path will depend on the size of loads to be

picked up and deposited and the desired location of external load support surfaces to

which the load supporting structure is to be moved. Thus, in the case where loads are to

be stacked two high, taking up essentially the entire height of the body, and are to be

loaded from and unloaded to a load support surface which may constitute an adjacent ground surface, the second guide path should extend at least from the middle of the height

of the body down to a position below a floor or other lowermost load-supporting extremity of the body, and the load supporting structure should be movable throughout

all or at least a major part of this path.

In one embodiment, the first guide path extends overhead i.e. at or adjacent the

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. In a

preferred embodiment, 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.

Conveniently 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

otherwise have an extendable portion thereto so that the track, and the guided load supporting structure, can be withdrawn into the body, preferably wholly, for access to load locations within the interior of the body, and also for storage when not in use.

Movement along the first guide path may be manually effected simply by hand

pushing or pulling of the load supporting structure or by operation of a winch or winding

device or the like. Alternatively or additionally movement may be effected under power

using an electric motor or solenoid, or a hydraulic device or otherwise.

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

along a vertical path. Alternatively or additionally one or more guide tracks may be used.

In one embodiment 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.

In one embodiment a winch arrangement is used to power upward movement, and

gravity may be rehed on to effect downward movement.

In a further embodiment one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder

arrangements are used to power upward movement, and gravity may be relied onto 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.

As an alternative to the above described embodiment in which the first guide path comprises a pair of overhead tracks on or adjacent opposite side walls of the body, in

accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, 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

preferably there are at least two tracks which may be mounted one above the other

preferably respectively at top and bottom edge regions of the side wall. The (or each)

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

extendable portion thereto, and/or 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

otherwise to permit withdrawal of the load supporting structure into the body.

With this embodiment movement along the first guide path may be guided and may be manually effected or powered as described above.

In the case where the (or each) track of the first guide path is mounted on one side wall as mentioned above, preferably movement of the load-supporting structure along the

second guide path preferably occurs externally to the body adjacent the said one side wall

thereof.

Thus, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention the second guide path

extends at one side only of the body.

As mentioned above, most preferably, the load-supporting structure is movable

between one or more locations above a floor of the load-carrying body, and one or more

locations, externally of the body, below such floor e.g.. down to an adjacent ground

surface.

Where the second guide path extends at one side only of the body, 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

the (or each) said upright guide track.

In a preferred embodiment 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

load carrying body. In the case of a channel-section guide track or tracks these may be

slotted, or open, e.g. at front faces, to allow movement of mounting links for the load

supporting structure longitudinally of the track or tracks.

Movement of the load-supporting structure may be manually effected, or powered

in at least one direction along the second guide path by a hydraulic ram or any other

suitable device, as described above.

With all of the above embodiments 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.

Appropriate reliable brakes or locking mechanism may be provided for one or

more of the aforementioned movable parts so that the load supporting structure can be

locked or restrained in an adjusted position with regard to movement along one or both of

the guide paths and/or any further rotational, tiltable or other movement.

The body may be an integral or removable body of a trailer or lorry or other wheeled road transport vehicle.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

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

arrangement of fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a detail; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a road vehicle with an

alternative form of load moving device according to the invention.

Referring to Fig 1, 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

8, is mounted on the chassis 1. The rear end 9 of the body is open but is provided with a

pair of hinged doors 10.

The vehicle can be used to transport loads 11 stored within the body, and the

drawing show pallet-mounted loads 11 stacked two high, the stacks extending side by

side, in two rows, along the length of the body from a position immediately adjacent the

front wall 6 to a position spaced inwardly from the open end 9.

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

below the roof 8, with an open slot 14 along the innermost side.

The moving device also has a load supporting structure 15, which in this case

comprises a fork structure of this kind used for insertion into pallets for lifting purposes. 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

parallel horizontal extension members 18 which have adjacent ends joined by transverse

horizontal link members 19.

The free ends of the extension members 18 face inwardly into the body 4. The

spacing of these members 18 is smaller than the spacing of the overhead guide tracker 12

and the free end portion of the extension members are longitudinally slidably connected to

the guide tracks by attached rollers or carriages 20 within the box-section members 13, as

shown in Fig. 4.

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

prevented by stops (not shown).

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

cylinder arrangement 16 and hence the fork structure 15 through say 270°C as well as side by side sliding movement between the extension members 18.

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.

When pressure is released, the fork structure 15 can drop under gravity to the

lowermost position shown in Fig 1, i.e level with or slightly above the ground surface.

When pressure is applied 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

connection with the bottom of the cylinder arrangement 16.

The movement of the slidable turntable 21 maybe manually effected, or if desired there may be power assistance which may be electric or hydraulic. A releasable lock or

brake may be provided to hold the sliding turntable 21 in a selected sideways and/or

rotational position. 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.

With the arrangement so far described, the fork structure 15 can be moved

longitudinally from an outermost position shown in Fig 3 , to an innermost position within

the body close to the front end wall.

Also, as appropriate, the fork structure 15 can be positioned at any height between

the described lowermost and uppermost positions, and can be moved from side to side and

rotated eg so as to move from the position shown in Fig 3 to a position projecting at right

angles beyond the side of the body, or facing rearwardly beyond the frame 17.

Thus, 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.

Similarly, loads can be stacked within the body by transfer from adjacent pick-up

locations to stacks within the body by appropriate manoeuvre of the fork structure 15.

This much facilitates convenient and safe load handling. When not in use, the fork structure 15 can be stowed wholly within the body by moving the extension member 18

inwardly, preferably with the fork structure 15 level with the uppermost pallet position (as in Fig 2) so than the frame 17 and fork structure 15 are retracted into the body with the

fork structure 15 inserted into one of the rear end upper pallets, if present, whereby the

rear doors 10 can then be closed.

As an alternative to the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 to permit retraction and

extension of the fork structure into and out of the body, it is possible to use a different

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

which are pivoted out into alignment with the main parts for this purpose.

Also, instead of the coaxial cylinder arrangement 16, the fork structure 15 may be connected to the link members 19 via a pair of vertical spaced apart telescopic slide tracks

eg made from interfitting channel section members, with a winch arrangement comprising

a wire running from the link members to the fork structure 15 and connected to a winding

device for pulling up the fork structure. Other arrangements involving sliding and/or

hinged components are also possible.

Referring now to Fig. 5 this shows a van-bodied load-carrying road vehicle having

a cab 101, a van body 102, a chassis 103 and road wheels 104. The van body has a floor 105, roof 106, opposite upright side walls 107, 108, a

front end wall (not shown) and a rear opening which is closeable with doors (omitted).

Within the body 102, along substantially the entire length of one of the side walls

107 there are upper and lower guide tracks 109, 110 rigidly fixed to the side wall 107 so

as to extend horizontally immediately below the top edge (below the roof 106) and

immediately above the bottom edge (above the floor 105). There are no guide tracks on the opposite side wall 108.

Each guide track 109, 110 is a metal channel section which has an open slot 111

along its outer face i.e. that face which is directed away from the side wall 107. A load-supporting structure 112 in the form of a platform is suspended from an

upright guide structure 113 which is mounted on the tracks 109, 110.

The guide structure 113 comprises two vertical spaced-apart upright tracks 114,

115 fixed at upper and lower end regions to horizontal metal beams 116, 117 which may

be solid or box-section members.

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

with the adjacent track 114 at the other side.

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

of the floor 105 and roof 106 whereby the upright tracks 114, 115 can fit within the van

body. 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

within the tracks 109, 110.

The platform 112 is suspended from the upright tracks 114, 1.15 by upright solid

or box-section members 121, 122 which fit closely within the upright tracks 114, 115.

These members 121, 122 are fixed to the platform 112 by hinges 123 at their

bottom ends, and are linked by a link bar attached to brackets at their top ends.

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

123 are dimensional to fit within the slots 118 of the upright tracks 114, 115. The

members 121, 122 are thereby free to move along the entire length of the tracks 114, 115.

The members 121, 122 are shorter than the upright tracks 114, 115, say about half

the length of the tracks, 121, 122 whereby movement of the members 121, 122 between a

lowermost position at which the upper ends of the members 121, 122 are at or close to the lower ends of the tracks 114, 115, and an uppermost position at which the upper ends of

the members 121, 122 are at or close to the upper ends of the tracks 114, 115,

corresponds to movement of the platform 112 between a lower position, (as shown in the

drawing) substantially below the floor 105, and an upper position generally midway between the roof 106 and the floor 105. 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

connected via a chain 127 which runs around a pulley wheel 128 mounted on the upper

member 116 to the top link bar. Application of hydraulic power to the ram 126 causes the platform 112 to be lifted. Release of power allows the platform 112 to descend under its

own weight. The platform 112 may be held in an adjusted position by brakes or locks (not

shown) or by powering of the ram 126.

The drawing shows the platform 112 located in a lowermost position on or

immediately above a ground surface beyond the open back end of the van body 102.

The upright tracks 114, 115 are clo sely adj acent to the side wall 107 with the open

slots 118, and the platform 112 directed away from the side wall 107 in a direction towards the opposite side wall 108.

The projecting portions 119, 120 of the members 116, 117 extend into the side

wall tracks 109, 110. The members 116, 117 are held in position in the tracks 109, 110 by

drive and/or brake or lock mechanisms (not shown) used to drive the members 116, 117 longitudinally of the tracks 109, 110 and to hold the members 116, 117 securely in a

selected position.

The platform 112 can now be lifted to a position level with the floor 105 to assist

in transfer of loads between the ground surface and the floor 105.

When the platform 112 is lifted above the floor 105 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. Within 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

ensure adequate support for the platform 112 whilst being short enough to permit

movement along a substantial length of the body so that the platform 112 can be moved

close to the front end wall of the body 102.

With this arrangement, loads can be conveniently transferred from a ground surface beyond the back end of the van body to stacks or shelves within the body and vice

versa.

When not in use the platform 112 can be moved to a position wholly within the

body 102 immediately adjacent the open back end and then the platform 112 can be

hinged up for storage. The platform 112 can be held in an upright stored position by a

clip or the like (not shown).

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

very little of the loading space.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted

to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A load-moving device for a load-carrying body of a road transport vehicle having

an opening thereto, said device having a load supporting structure mounted for

movement along a first guide path extending within the body and also along a

second guide path extending upright and transverse to the first guide path, characterised in that the first guide path is also extendable through and beyond the

said body opening.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in that the first and second guide

paths are straight and extend respectively horizontally and vertically.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the load supporting

structure is positionally adjustable by movement from side to side transverse to the first guide path.

4. A device according to claim 3 characterised in that the load supporting structure is

further adjustable with regard to its position or orientation.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the first guide

path extends along at least a major part of the length of the body and the load supporting structure is movable along at least a major part of the first guide path.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterised in that the first guide path extends

along substantially all of the length of the body and the load supporting structure is movable along substantially all of the first guide path.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the second guide path extends between at least the middle of the height of the body down to a position below a floor of the body and the load supporting structure is movable

along at least a major part of this path.

8. A device according to claim 7 characterised in that the load supporting structure is

movable along substantially all of the second guide path.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the first guide path comprises at least one track.

10. A device according to claim 9 characterised in that the (or each) track of the first

guide path has an extendable portion thereto so that the track and the load supporting structure can be withdrawn into the body.

11. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 12 characterised in that movement

along the (or each) track of the first guide path is guided by rollers or carriages running along the track.

12. A device according to any one of claims 9 to 11 characterised in that the (or each) track of the first guide path is an overhead track at or adjacent a roof of the body.

13. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the second

guide path comprises a telescopic arrangement of guide tracks.

14. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterised in that the (or each)

track of the first guide path extends along one side wall only of the body.

15. A device according to claim 14 characterised in that the first guide path comprises

at least two tracks mounted one above the other on the side wall.

16. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and 14, 15 characterised in that the second guide path extends at one side only of the body.

17. A device according to claim 16 characterised in that the second guide path comprises at least one upright guide track.

18. A device according to claim 17 characterised in that the load- supporting structure is guided by one or more upright supports running along the (or each) upright guide track.

19. A wheeled road transport vehicle having a load-carrying body with a load moving device according to any one of claims 1 to 18.