GB1401807A - Road vehicles and bodies therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

1401807 Container traffic; container transfer PENGCO TRANSPORT SYSTEMS Ltd 10 Aug 1973 [12 May 1972] 22400/72 Heading B8Q [Also in Division B7] A vehicle with body supporting means adapted to travel below a container body standing with clearance from the ground, has spaced guides to ensure alignment of the body with the body supporting means which may be raised and lowered relative to a road wheel axle. In a preferred embodiment, Fig. 1, the guides are formed by large diameter wheels 11 which are freely rotatable and engage the side edges of rails 22 on the container frame 20, Fig. 6. Fluid operated jacks, such as air springs 18 or hydraulic jacks, acting on trailing leaf spring arms 16, may be actuated to raise or lower the chassis from the wheel axle. Rails 10 with ramps 10a, 10c, 10d, 10f are engaged by rectractable rollers 23 on the base frame 20, of the container. The vehicle is arranged to pick-up a pair of containers 25, 26, Fig. 2, and when the rollers 23 have travelled down their respective inclines 10f, 10c, hooks 12 engage sockets 24 on the front frame 20 and locking cylinders 13 pressurized to engage locking members 14 with sockets 27, Fig. 6, so securing the containers. The jacks 18 are inflated to lift rear legs 21 of the containers which are then raised to the stowed position and the air springs 18 are subsequently deflated until the normal travel height of the chassis is obtained. In another embodiment the centre inclines 10c, 10d are omitted in which case the rollers 23 are retracted to allow rails 22 to sit on the rails 10. In another embodiment, Fig. 3, each rail 10 has a single level 10g extending between front and rear ramps with guides 10h at their forward ends. Also, the front wheels 15a have a suspension similar to the rear wheels 15 the arms 16 of the front wheel being either trailing or leading arms. In a further embodiment, Fig. 5, two sets of rear road wheels 15c, 15d with trailing arm suspensions are provided. Also castor wheels 31 can be retracted by gear 32.