GB2024167A - Load handling arrangement for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The load handling arrangement is for prepacked loads and includes load engaging platforms (4) extending transverse to the vehicle chassis members (2). Each platform is supported by collapsible containers (5) such as air bags which are supported from the chassis on cross members (6). To raise the platforms the air bags are inflated and to lower the load the air bags are deflated. A control valve (9) allows selective operation of the air bags. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load handling arrangements for vehicles.

The present invention relates to load-handling arrangements and, in particular, to such arrangements actuated by fluid.

For ecomomy in handling it has become the practice to arrange loads to be transported in a prepacked form to enable a complete load to be moved onto and from a vehicle as a completely unitary assemblage. Thus, for example, goods constituting the load may be packed into suitable container units which are equipped with retractable legs to enable them to be raised to a convenient height to allow a transporting vehicle to be manoeuvred under the unit, between the legs. It then becomes necessary to provide means for supporting the weight of the container while the legs are retracted, and then to lower the container unit onto the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a load handling arrangement for a vehicle adapted for the transport of prepacked loads and having an elongate chassis including at least a pair of load engaging platforms transverse the longitudinal axis of the chassis and spaced apart along that axis, each platform being supported by at least two collapsible fluid containers, means for supporting the containers in a fixed position relative to the chassis, a source of fluid under pressure and valve means connected between the fluid source and the containers selectively operable to control the flow of fluid from the source to the containers to raise the platforms relative to the chassis; to seal the containers against inflow or exhaust of fluid, and to exhaust fluid from the containers to lower the platforms.

A second aspect of the invention provides a load handling arrangement for a vehicle adapted to transport prepackaged loads and having an elongate chassis, the arrangement including at least a pair of load raising devices which are intended to be arranged transverse to longitudnal axis of the chas sis and spaced apart along the length thereof, each such load raising device including a load engaging platform with each said platform being supported by at least two collapsible fluid containers, whereby the platforms can be displaced between a lowered position with respect to the chassis when the containers are deflated, and a raised position with respect to the chassis for supporting a load when the containers are inflated.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 schematically illustrates a road vehicle equipped with load engaging platforms, and Figure 2 shows diagrammatically to an enlarged scale one of the load engaging platforms.

Referring now to the drawing, a road vehicle is represented as having a driving cab 1 and a pair of elongate substantially parallel members 2 which extend rearwardly from the cab 1 to form a conven tional chassis, which is supported in the usual manner on road wheels 3.

A pair of load engaging platforms 4 are spaced apart along the chassis and each platform 4 is supported by a pair of air-bags 5 forming collapsible fluid containers. The containers 5 of each platform 4 are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and are, in turn, supported on a cross member 6. The cross member can be formed as a simple plate structure as suggested in Figure 1 or as is indicated in Figure 2 as a plate having side rails 6A and end rails 6B. These rails 6A and 6B are preferably of a box construction.

The cross members 6 as can be seen span the chassis members 2 and extend outwardly thereof by a distance which is conveniently substantially the same as the overall separation of the outer sides of the wheels 3.

The containers 5 are secured at the top thereof to the platform 4 and at the bottom to the crossmember 6 by any suitable fixing means. As shown in the Figure 2 the containers 5 are provided at the upper and lower ends thereof with mounting plates 5A which can be bolted or otherwise secured to the platform and cross member. The containers can be secured to the plates 5A by bonding or other means achieving a hermetical seal if this should be necessary.

An air compressor 7, forming a fluid supply source is provided on the chassis and is conveniently a compressor driven by the engine of the vehicle.

A hose 8 from the outlet of the compressor is connected to a valve control box 9 carried on the chassis in a convenient position for the operator.

The box 9 includes a group of three way valves 10 for the selective control of fluid flow to and from the containers 5. Typically, three valves would be provided, one each for the rear containers and one for the pair of front containers 5 which are connected in common. Each valve 10 will, when in a first position, permit the flow of fluid from the compressor 7 to the container 5 to which is is connected; in a second position the valve will permit fluid from the container 5 to be vented to atmosphere; and in a third position the valve 10 will effectively seal the container 5 against inflor or outflow of fluid. For this purpose, pipes 11 are provided from the valve box 9 along the chassis and cross members 2, 6 to the lower ends of the containers 5.

For convenience in locating the container to be supported, the platforms are provided with inclined plates or lugs 12 at the ends of the platforms. The plates or lugs 12 are turned upwards and outwards with respect to the platforms as they are situated on the vehicle chassis. Also the plates or lugs 12 can project slightly beneath the associated platfom ends to be engageable in suitably shaped recesses (not shown) at the end rails 6B of the cross member 6.

In use, a container to be loaded (not shown) would be arranged with its legs in a fully downward position so that its body is raised off the ground to a height somewhat greater than that of the platforms 4 when in their fully downward position with the containers 5 fully collapsed.

The vehicle, with the platforms 4 in this position is then reversed into position so that both platforms 4 are beneath the body of the container, the legs of the container being sufficiently widely spaced to permit the platforms 4 to pass freely as the vehicle is reversed into position.

The valves 10 are then operated to admit air from the compressor 7 into the containers 5 so that the platforms 4 are raised into contact with the underside of the container body, the plates or lugs 12 serving to guide the platforms 4 into position. It will be appreciated that the platforms 4, because they are supported only on the containers 5 have a lateral flexibility which will allow some transverse move menttotake up any slight misalignment of the vehicle chassis with respect to the container body.

The admission of fluid to the containers 5 is continued to raise the container body so that its legs are clear of the ground. The valves 10 are then moved to the sealing position to maintain this position while the legs are retracted. When this has been done, the valves 10 are moved into the exhaust position so that the containers 5 are collapsed and the load container settles onto the chassis of the vehicle.

Provision may be made on the vehicle to ensure that the load container is securely located on board.

Thus, a deck or a simple frame may be provided, secured to the chassis, on which the load container may be received and to which the container may be fastened, as by clamps or chains. Such a deck or frame may be so positioned that the platforms that the platforms 4 are able to retract below the surface of the frame or deck.

In a particular construction the frame formed by the rails 6A and the ends 6B can be of such depth that when the collapsible containers 5 are in their deflated position or condition the platform 4 nests into the frame sufficiently to ensure that the upper surface of the platform is flush with or otherwise does not project above the upper surface of the frame. Also by the inter-relation between the plates or lugs 12 and the associated recesses in the end rails 6B it is ensured that with the containers fully deflated not only are they totally enclosed within the frame but are not subjected to the weight of the load container. The above mentioned deck frame can comprise two parallel additional longitudinal mem bers (not shown) running lengthwise of the chassis members.These additional members are supported away from the chassis members 2 at such a height, on short support columns, that the upper surfaces of the additional members are flush with the upper surfaces of the side rails 6A and end rails 6B.

The additional members are joined at their oppo site ends by cross pieces (not shown) thereby forming a further rectangular framework including the cross members 6. As has been mentioned the ends of the cross members 6 project laterally of the chassis members 2 so that by positioning the containers 5 adjacent the end regions of the trans verse members 6 the containers are effectively located outside the limits of the chassis so that the support base for the load container is as wide as possible.

The vehicle may also carry locating structures such as upstanding wedge-like members, which are arranged to engage with complementary members carried by the load container to ensure correct location of the container with respect to the vehicle during transport.

It is to be understood that, although the forgoing description deals with a vehicle which is itself a prime mover, the application of the invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the vehicle could be a trailer and the platforms 4 together with their associated air-bags 5 or other fluid containers wouid then be installed on the trailer chassis.

Equally, the arrangement is also applicable to other road vehicles, such as railway rolling stock, It will also be realised that prepacked loads other than containers may be handled by the load engaging platforms 4 provided that these loads are supported as to enable a vehicle equipped with the platforms 4 to be manoeuvred into position. The sequence of lifting the load to permit removal of the support and the subsequent settling of the load onto the vehicle chassis will, as described, permit the transfer of the load to the vehicle.

While the use of air bags for the containers 5 has been described, other forms of collapsible containers may be used, such as telescopic containers, for example, which are arranged to permit a minor lateral movement of the platforms 4 to take up any slight misalignment of the vehicle chassis with respect to the load.

Moreover, other fluids than air may be employed and the fluid supply and exhaust arrangements may be modified. Thus, for example, a hydraulic fluid may be used and the compressor described may be replaced by a pump and reservoir combination so that the fluid is extracted from and exhausted to the reservoir.

Where the vehicle is not equipped with an engine the compressor or pump may be independently driven, for example, by an electric motor from a conventional mains outlet or it may be a suitable portable appliance. In the latter case, the control valves are preferably sited on the vehicle to simplify standardisation of the equipment, and a suitable fluid connection is provided on the chassis to enable the fluid source to be coupled to the vehicle.

Claims (8)

1. A load handling arrangement for a vehicle adapted for the transport of prepacked and having an elongate chassis including at least a pair of load engaging platforms transverse the longitudinal axis of the chassis and spaced apart along that axis, each platform being supported by at least two collapsible fluid containers, means for supporting the containers in a fixed position relative to the chassis, a source of fluid under pressure and valve means connected between the fluid source and the containers selectively operable to control the flow of fluid from the source to the containers to raise the platforms relative to the chassis; to seal the containers against inflow or exhaust of fluid, and to exhaust fluid from the containers to lower the platforms.

2. A load handling arrangement for a vehicle adapted to transport prepackaged loads and having an elongate chassis, the arrangement including at least a pair of load raising devices which are intended to be arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the chassis and spaced apart along the length thereof, each such load raising device including a load engaging platform with each said platform being supported by at least two collapsible fluid containers, whereby the platforms can be displaced between a lowered position with respect to the chassis when the containers are deflated, and a raised position with respect to the chassis for supporting a load when the containers are inflated.

3. A load handling arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, and including control valve means enabling such selective control of the flow of fluid to and from the containers, the control means being such as to enable both of the load raising devices to be simultaneously operated or separately operated.

4. A load handling arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein each said device includes a rectangular means which is of such overall size and depth that when the collapsible containers are deflated the associated platform is able to nest therein so that the upper surface of the platform does not project upwardly outwardly from the rectangular means and so that the associated collapsible containers are wholly enclosed the arrangement being such that the collapsible containers are not under load when deflated even though a load may be resting upon the device.

5. A load handling arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the collapsible containers are bellows-like elements.

6. A load handling arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the collapsible containers are pneumatically operarable.

7. A load handling arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the collapsible containers provide the sole connections between the platform and the remainder of the device.

8. A load handling arrangement constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.