GB1602738A

GB1602738A - Load-carrying vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1602738A
Application number: GB3823777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: York Truck Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: York Truck Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-19
Filing date: 1978-05-19
Publication date: 1981-11-18

Description

(54) LOAD-CARRYING VEHICLES (71) We, YORK TRUCK EQUIPMENT LrMflD, a British Company, of Corby, Northamptonshire, NN18 8AQ, England, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to load-carrying vehicles having a body on or in which goods are to be carried. Packing of goods in such vehicles is sometimes complicated because, in order to efficiently utilize the available space, different items must be stacked upon one another.

Stacking can render a load unstable, thereby putting undesirable strain on either or both of the walls of the body where present and other securing means.

A load carrying vehicle having a van-type body or curtain-sided body in accordance with the invention comprises an auxiliary platform provided in the body of the vehicle above and substantially parallel to the floor of the body, four stanchions one positioned at each of the four corners of the floor, the auxiliary platform being mounted on runners which slidably engage the stanchions, means being provided for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the floor and for supporting the platform at one or more levels above the floor.

The platform effectively defines two separate load carrying compartments and the platform may be made movable vertically to either or both of the floor or roof of the body to expand the available space during loading of one compartment to substantially that of the original, empty body.

Cables extending from the tops of the stanchions may be routed around pulleys at the comers of the platform to a pulley system mounted centrally on the underside of the platform linked to drive means for shortening or lengthening the free length of each cable to raise or lower the platform as desired.

The drive means may comprise means for taking up cable lengths in the form of loops and a hydraulic ram is particularly suitable for this purpose. This "loop" technique has the advantage that the ends of the cables are securely attached respectively to the body and the plat form may thus be maintained substantially horizontal at all times merely by adjusting the securement at one end of each cable. The drive means may of course, be located at any position in the vehicle, but it is convenient to mount it on the underside of the platform.

Conveniently, supports are provided for the platform at an intermediate level at which it will rest when loaded. Temporary locking means may be included at both the intermediate level and a higher level to a) support the platform at the higher level while the floor of the body is being loaded, and b) to stop the platform from "bouncing" on the supports when the vehicle is in motion. The supports may either be permanent, where the platform is never to be lowered below the intermediate level, or withdrawable, if it is desired that the platform is to be used at other levels. In the latter case, the locking means can be made more substantial to take on this role.

It is desirable to include some form of failsafe device which locks the wheels of the vehicle unless the platform is in a predetermined travelling position. This may, for example, be linked to the supporting means or the locking mechanism, where employed.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference tithe drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embody ment of a semi-trailer in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view, partly broken away, showing the means by which the platform is mounted at the front end of the body; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a mounting at the rear end of the body; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the underside of a central part of the platform at which the drive means for raising and lowering the platform is located; Figure 5 is a detailed view of the ends of two cables, showing how they are secured to the platform; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the rear end of the body, showing temporary locking means.

In Figure 1, a semi-trailer curtain-sidied body 2 (although the curtain is not shown) is provided with an auxiliary platform 4 'above and substantially parallel to the floor 6: The platform 4 is rnounted on four brackets which are each slidably mounted on a stanchion 8.

This running gear is described in more detail below. In the intermediate position shown, the platform rests on shoulders (not shown) extending from each stanchion 8 and the central pillars 10. A microswitch might be fitted to each shoulder which activates means for locking the wheels unless each shoulder is engaged by the platform.

A control box 12 is mounted on the nearside pillar 10 from which the movement of the platform is controlled. If the body has only a rear door or doors, the control box will be suitably re-located.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the front offside stanchion and illustrates how the bracket 14 which supports the platform is slidably mounted on the stanchion. A plate 16 is welded to longitudinal beam 18 of the platform 4 and coupled to flanges 20 welded to the bracket 14 by a pin 22. The bracket 14 is of T-shaped cross-section and the cross-section of the stanchion 8 is C-shaped, the web 24 of the bracket 14 passing through the slot 26 and carrying rollers 28 which run on the inside surfaces of the stanchion.

Figure 3 shows the rear offside stanchion where the construction is essentially similar to that shown in Figure 2. However, the coupling between the platform 4 and the bracket 14 permits some longitudinal movement therebetween.

This is achieved by interposing a dummy plate 30 in the coupling between pin joints 32 and 34. By this means, the platform 4 may flex during its vertical movement without putting undue strain on the running gear.

In the illustrated embodiment, the platform is suspended on four cables which each extend from the upper end of a stanchion 8 and are routed around pulleys at the corners of the platform 4 to drive means which is illustrated in Figure 4. The cables 36 from the offside corners pass around pulleys 40 to join the cables 38 from the nearside comers at double pulleys 42. The pairs of cables then follow common paths around two more double pulleys 44 attached to a carriage 46 and are locked at a mechanism 48 to the cross members 50 traversing the underside of the platform 4.

The carriage 46 is slidably mounted on the cross members 50 and coupled to a piston rod 52 of a hydraulic ram 54 housed between the cross members. The two runs of cable between pulleys 42 and locking mechanisms 48 form loops which may be enlarged or contracted by the actuation of ram 54.

Generally, the weight of the platform will maintain the cables taut but with the platform at its lowermost position and resting on other supports, there is a tendency for them to slacken as the pressure in the hydraulic ram reduces. To maintain the cables taut, a pair of spring buffers 56 are provided to engage the carriage 46 as the piston approaches the withdrawn position.

The locking mechanism 48 for each pair of cables is shown in more detail in Figure 5. The cables 36 and 38 pass around guide pegs 58 and spliced to rings 60 which are in turn coupled to threaded bolts 62. The bolts 62 are secured to a plate 64 by nuts 66, the position of which may be adjusted to vary the effective length ins dividually of each cable.

Fluid pressure for the ram 54 is provided by a power pack 68 mounted on the underside of the platform 4 as shown in Figure 4. A suitable 24V modular power pack is available from Smiths Industries which can provide a maximum pressure of 3200 p.s.i. This model can be rated at 2800 p.s.i. to lift a deck weighing 1 ton through 3 ft. 9 ins. in about 15 seconds using a single 2 inch diameter ram. If the platform is to be raised or lowered while it carries a load, either a larger ram or two rams would be used.

For example, two 2 inch diameter rams can lift a four ton load on a one ton deck through 3 ft. 9 ins. in about 30 seconds. Of coursej by increasing the number of pulleys (and thereby the purchase on the pulley system) a lower rated power pack or a smaller ram system can be used with a consequent loss in rise time; The power pack used will include a solenoid controlled restrictor valve for lowering the platform and all the operations of the ram may be initiated from the control box 12 (see Figure 1).

Figure 6 shows another perspective view of the rear offside stanchion and illustrates means by which the platform 4 may be locked at various levels. A beam 70 is mounted on the end of the platform 4 and extends beyond the stanchion 8. The beam 70 is of channel section and an alignment pin 72 extends downwardly from the ends thereof. Plate 74 forms a shoulder upon which the corner of the platform rests at the intermediate level and is welded to both the stanchion 8 and the wall of the body 76 as shown. The pin 72 engages an aperture 78 in the plate 74 when the platform is at the intermediate level. A similar arrangement is provided at the front of the body but the alignment pin is double-ended so that it engages an aperture 80 in an upper plate 82 welded to the stanchion and/or body when the platform is raised to its highest position. An upper alignment is not appropriate at the rear in view of the flexure of the platform which is taken up by the rear running gear (see Figure 3).

Also shown in Figure 6 is the locking mechanism which consists of a rod 84 which is joumaled in the plates 74 and tn the body at either end, and has welded thereto projections 86. When the beam 70 is at the level of a projection, the rod 84 is rotated such that the projection enters the channel of the beam.

The rod will be spring biased to both the lock- ing and releasing orientations by, for example, a square cam mechanism. It will be appreciated that each rod may be located longitudinally between the stanchions, the projections being adapted to engage the channel of beam 18 at chosen levels. The embodiment illustrated is particularly suitable for a body with a rear door; for a curtain sided body, the locking mechanism and supports will normally be located inwardly, rather than outwardly of the stanchions, as they will be at the front end of the embodiment shown which is a curtain sided body with rear doors.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A load carrying vehicle having a van-type body or curtain-sided body comprising an auxiliary platform provided in the body of the vehicle above and substantially parallel to the floor of the body, and four stanchions one positioned at each of the four corners of the floor, the auxiliary platform being mounted on runners which slidably engage the stanchions, means being provided for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the floor and the supporting the platform at one or more levels above the floor.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein cables are provided extending from the tops of the stanchions and extending around pulleys at the corners of the platform to a pulley system mounted centrally on the underside of the platform and linked to drive means for shortening or lengthening the free length of each cable to raise or lower the platform as desired.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 in which the drive means comprises means for taking-up cable lengths in the form of loops.

4. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 in which the drive means comprises a hydraulic ram.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the drive means is mounted on the underside of the platform.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which supports are provided for the platform at an intermediate level at which it will rest when loaded.

7. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6 in which the supports are removable from the body of the platform.

8. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6 wherein locking means are provided at both the intermediate and higher levels respectively to stop the platform from bouncing on the supports at the intermediate level when the vehicle is in motion or to support the platform at the higher level while the floor of the body is being loaded.

9. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. a square cam mechanism. It will be appreciated that each rod may be located longitudinally between the stanchions, the projections being adapted to engage the channel of beam 18 at chosen levels. The embodiment illustrated is particularly suitable for a body with a rear door; for a curtain sided body, the locking mechanism and supports will normally be located inwardly, rather than outwardly of the stanchions, as they will be at the front end of the embodiment shown which is a curtain sided body with rear doors. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A load carrying vehicle having a van-type body or curtain-sided body comprising an auxiliary platform provided in the body of the vehicle above and substantially parallel to the floor of the body, and four stanchions one positioned at each of the four corners of the floor, the auxiliary platform being mounted on runners which slidably engage the stanchions, means being provided for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the floor and the supporting the platform at one or more levels above the floor.