GB2065075A - Improvements in or relating to load-carrying vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to load-carrying vehicles of the kind in which a load, for example, a container or special-purpose body is removable over the side of the vehicle. Two support members (1) are secured to the vehicle chassis, and hydraulically controlled arms (4) are pivotally mounted respectively in the two support members. Two beams (7) are pivotally mounted on the respective arms, and are controlled by wires (32 and 35) in such away that, as each arm is moved about its pivot axis, the respective beam is maintained horizontally. The load is supported by means of chains or the like to spaced-apart points on the beams. Lateral legs (10) are provided to prevent overturning of the vehicle during loading and unloading, and these legs may be locked in position by additional limbs (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to load-carrying vehicles This invention relates to load-carrying vehicles of the kind in which the load is constituted by a removable container or special-purpose body.

Many types of vehicle are known in which a container or body can be drawn on to, or removed from, the vehicle over the rear of the chassis by a winch or a hydraulically operated lifting system. Such vehicles suffer from the disadvantage that there is frequently insufficient space for the vehicle to be manoeuvred when the container or body is located behind the vehicle. Thus, for example, after the vehicle has deposited the container, it may well be necessary to move the containerto a different position before the vehicle can be driven away. With large containers, this operation may be extremely difficult or, in some circumstances, even impossible.

Similar considerations may apply when a container is to be loaded since there may well be insufficient room in front of the container to manoeuvre the vehicle into position. Consequently, it is necessary to drive the vehicle into position first, and then use a crane or the like to deposit the container on the ground behind the vehicle. Such an operation completely removes all the advantages of the lifting system provided on the vehicle.

In view of the above, it has been proposed to provide a vehicle in which the container or body can be lifted on to the vehicle from the side of the vehicle, and similarly can be deposited on the ground by the side ofthevehicle. Such vehicles provide considerable advantages in terms of the space required for loading and unloading the containers or bodies.

However, existing vehicles of this type suffer from the disadvantage that the lifting systems are extremely heavy and complicated. Usually they take the form of a pair of crane-like structures, one located behind the vehicle cab, and the other located at the rear of the chassis. These cranes are arranged with rotatable jibs and hooks which can be attached to the container or body to enable the container or body to be swung up from the side of the vehicle, and then lowered to the ground. Apart from their size and weight, these cranes have to extend to a considerable height to enable them to operate, and this may well place restrictions on the roads along which the vehicle can travel. Also it may well be disadvantageous if the vehicle has to be driven into an enclosed area to pick up or deposit the container or body.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a load-carrying vehicle arranged to pick up and deposit a container or body at the side of the vehicle which does not suffer from at least some of the disadvantages of known vehicles of this type.

The invention consists in a load-carrying vehicle including two support members secured to the vehicle chassis, two arms each pivotally mounted in the region of one of its ends in a respective one of the support members so that the pivot axes are substantially coaxial and parallel to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle, and two beams each pivotally mounted on one of said arms in the region of the other of its ends, wherein each of said beams is connected to the respective support member by wires in such a way that, as each arm is moved about its pivot axis, the attitude of the respective beam with respect to the respective support member is maintained constant.

Preferably one of the support members is secured to the vehicle chassis immediately behind the driver's cab, and the other support member is secured to the vehicle chassis as close as is practicable to the rear end of the chassis. Thus a container or body can be carried on a vehicle between the two support members. The container or body is connected to the two beams by means of chains, or the like, which extend from the region of each end of each beam to fastening points on the container or body which are preferably located in the bottom corners of the front and rear walls of the container or body.

The load may be, for example, an I.S.O. Container and, in this case, the ends of the chains will be provided with suitable members for fitting into the I.S.O.

lock recesses of the container. Additionally means will be provided for locking the container to the chassis once it has been moved inboard by means of the pivotted arms. If desired, an intermediate frame may be fitted to the chassis, and the twist locks for engaging in the cooperating recesses in the container may be provided on this intermediate frame.

Preferably each of the arms is provided with a hydraulic ram for causing pivotal motion of the respective arm about its pivot axis. Preferably the pivot axes of the arms in the support members are located in line with the wheels on the offside of the vehicle, and the hydraulic rams are arranged so that each is capable of swinging the respective arm from a first position in which the pivot axis of the respective beam on the arm is located substantially on the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle, to a second position in which this pivot axis is located at a distance from the offside side of the vehicle greater than half the width of the container or body. Thus it will be seen that the hydraulic rams can be used to move a container from a first position in which it is located symmetrically on the chassis of the vehicle, to a second position in which it is clear of the side of the vehicle.

It will be understood that, when the arms are swung outwardly with respect to the vehicle, the centre of gravity of the container or body will also be moved to one side of the vehicle. Thus there may be an overturning moment applied to the vehicle by the weight of the container or body. Accordingly, it is preferred that a lateral leg be provided on each support member to resist this overturning moment. Preferably each leg is pivotally mounted on a respective one of the support members, and is movable under the control of a hydraulic ram from a first position in which it is stowed inboard of the outline of the vehicle, and a second position in which is extends outwardly at least as far as the furthest location of the centre of gravity of the container or body during its transference from, or to, the vehicle.Preferably the outer end of each of these lateral legs is provided with a ground-engaging wheel, foot, orjack. Prefer ably an additional limb is provided to support the respective leg in its second position. Each of these limbs may be pivotally mounted on the respective leg in the region of the outer end thereof, and may extend upwardly when the respective leg is in its second position to the uppermost part of the respective support member. Locking means are provided to connect the upper end of each limb to the respective support member in order to prevent pivotal movement of the respective leg during loading or unloading of the container or body.

It is to be understood that, with a system in accordance with the invention, the container or body is maintained substantially upright at all times instead of having to be tilted as in most known systems.

However, in some instances, it may be desirable to produce controlled tilting of the body or container.

This is particularly the case where the body is open at the top, and is used to carrying a particulate load such as sand or gravel. In such cases, it may be desirable to empty the load from the body at the side of the vehicle. For this purpose, the body may be supported from the beams by means of wire ropes passing over pulleys mounted on the beams, said ropes being terminated in a common anchorage.

Hydraulic means may then be provided to move the common anchorage laterally along the respective beam. It will be understood that such lateral movement of the common anchorage will be effective to lengthen one of the wire ropes on each beam and shorten the other. Consequently, the body will be tipped sideways. It is to be understood that, before tipping commences, the body will be swung out to the side of the vehicle and, accordingly, when tipping takes place, the load will be deposited well clear of the vehicle. This is a considerable advantage compared with known tipping vehicles in which the load is normally deposited very close to the side or rear of the vehicle.

One method of performing the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a load-carrying vehicle in accordance with the invention showing the arms in their first position and the legs in their second position; Figure 2 is a rear view of the forward support member and associated mechanism of the vehicle illustrated in Figure 1 showing the arm and the leg in its second position; Figure 3 is a view generally similar to Figure 2 with parts of the apparatus broken away to show the operation of the mechanism; Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the hydraulic rams used in a vehicle in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is an elevation of one of the beams show ing the modification required for producing tipping of the load.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the vehi cle illustrated includes support members 1 and 2 secured to the chassis 3 of the vehicle. Each of the support members consists primarily of a pair of ver tical plates defining a space therebetween. An arm 4 is pivotally mounted in the support member 1, and an arm 5 is pivotally mounted in the support member 2. The pivot axis forthe arm 5 is shown at 6, and the pivot axis for the arm 4 is coaxial therewith.

A beam 7 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the arm 4, and a beam 8 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the arm 5. The pivot axis of the beam 7 is indicated at 9. Each of the arms is of hollow box section and is movable within the space between the plates of the respective support member.

A lateral leg 10 is pivotally mounted on the support member land a lateral leg 11 is pivotally mounted on the support member 2. The pivot axes for the legs 10 and 11 are respectively coincident with the pivot axes forthe arms 4 and 5. A ground engaging foot 12 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the leg 10, and a ground-engaging foot 13 is pivotally mounted on the outer end of the leg 11. A supporting limb 14 extends between the leg 10 and the support member 1, while a supporting limb 15 extends between the leg 11 and the support member 2.

Each of the legs 10 and 11 consists essentially of a channel member, and each of the supporting limbs 14 and 15 consists essentially of a pair of angle members joined by a plate in the region of the lower end thereof. Each of the supporting limbs is connected to its respective leg by sliding connections constituted by pins slidable in slots, such as slot 26, in the side walls of the channel members constituting the respective legs. The two angle members constituting each of the limbs 14 and 15 are slidable on the upper edges of the respective support members 1 and 2. Locking means (not shown) are provided to maintain the limbs in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 in orderto reduce the compressive forces applied to the rams, such as ram 18, when the load is being swung outwardly of the vehicle.

Pivotal movement of the arm 4 is controlled by a hydraulic ram 16 and pivotal movement of the arm 5 is controlled by a hydraulic ram 17. The cylinders of the rams 16 and 17 are secured to respective shelf members extending across the spaces between the vertical plates of the support members. Pivotal movement of the leg 10 is controlled buy a ram 18, and pivotal movement of the leg 11 is controlled by a further hydraulic ram not shown. The cylinder of the ram 18 is pivotally mounted on the rear vertical plate of the support member 1, and the cylinder of the ram for the leg 11 is pivotally mounted on the front vertical plate of the support member 2.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 4, the piston rod 27 of each of the hydraulic rams 16 and 17 is provided with a pair of wheels 28. These wheels run on rails provided in the respective support members 1 and 2. The wheel axles also provide the pivot axes for coupling members such as the member 29 shown in connection with the ram 16 in Figures 2 and 4.

Bosses 19 and 20 are provided on the rear face of the beam 7, and bosses 21 and 22 are provided on the forward face of the beam 8. Chains such as those indicated by broken lines 23 and 24 extend between the respective bosses and attachment points on the container or load, which is indicated in Figure 1 by the broken lines 25.

The mechanism for maintaining the beam 7 horizontal throughout the pivotal motion of the arm 4 is shown in Figure 3. As can be seen, the arm 4 is provided with a lower circular former 30 and an upper circular former 31. A first wire 32 is secured at one end in the support member 1 as at 33. The wire 32 passes anticlockwise round the former 30, up the length of the arm 4, anticlockwise around the former 31, and is then secured to the beam 7 as at 34. A second wire 35 is secured to the support member 1 as at 36, and passes clockwise around the former 30.

It then extends up the arm 4, passes clockwise around the former 31, and is secured to the beam 7 as at 37. It is to be understood that at least one end of each of the wires 32 and 35 is secured adjustably so that the wires can be maintained taut and so that the attitude of the beam can be corrected. As can be seen from Figure 4, a slot 38 is provided in the member 29 to enable the wire 35 to pass through.

When the ram 16 is extended, as shown in Figure 4, the wire 32 will be located below the wire 35 as illustrated.

Figure 3 shows the arm 4 in the inboard position in full lines, and in the outward position in chain-dotted lines. This Figure also shows the leg 10 in the outward position in full lines, and in the inboard position in chain-dotted lines. It will be seen that, when the leg loins lifted into the inboard position, the lower end of the supporting limb 14 slides down the slot 26 so that the limb can rest horizontally on the top of the support member 1.

Figure 5 shows the alternative arrangement in which means are provided to tip the container or body. In this case, the chains such as 23 and 24, are replaced by wires 39 and 40. These wires pass around respective pulleys 41 and 42 and are attached to a common anchorage 43. The anchorage is in the form of a cylindrical member slidable along a tubular track 44, and is coupled by means of a link 45 to the piston rod 46 of a hydraulic cylinder 47 secured to the beam 7. It will be seen that, if the piston rod is extended, the wire 40 will be lowered, and the wire 49 will be raised. Accordingly, the load will be tipped clockwise as shown in the drawing.

Alternatively, if the piston rod is withdrawn into the cylinder, the anchorage 43 will be moved to the left, and the wire 49 will be lowered and the wire 40 raised. Thus, in this case, the load will be tipped anticlockwise. As it will normally only be required that the load should be tipped in one direction, the arrangement could be such that the anchorage 43 is located centrally with respect to the beam when the piston rod is withdrawn fully into the cylinder. Thus, in this case, the anchorage can only be moved to the right, and the load could only be tipped in a clockwise direction.

However, another facility which would be provided by the arrangement actually shown in the drawing is the tipping of the contents of a skip or the like into an open-topped container or body on the vehicle. In this instance, the skip would be raised from the ground by rotating the arms 4 and 5 anticlockwise until they are vertical. The piston rod 46 would then be withdrawn into the cylinder 47 so that the beams would be rotated anticlockwise. This rotation would, of course, tip the skip in an anticlockwise direction and empty the contents of the skip into the container or body on the vehicle. The beams would then be returned to the horizontal position and the skip deposited on the ground.

Power for operating the various hydraulic rams will normally be derived from the vehicle engine, and their operation will be controlled from a control panel on the near side of the support member 1.

Assuming that a load is to be lifted on to the vehicle, the vehicle will initially be driven into position by the side of the load with the arms and legs in their inboard positions. The driver will then leave his cab and move to the control panel. He will then operate the controls to cause the two legs to fold down into the position shown in Figure 1. Locking of the supporting limbs may be accomplished automatically, or it may be effected manually from the control panel. Preferably the controls will be interlocked in such a way that the arms 4 and 5 cannot be moved from their inboard positions until the limbs 14 and 15 have been locked. The operator now initiates outward movement of the two arms until the two beams 7 and 8 are located substantially centrally, one in front, and one behind, the load. The chains, or the like, are then attached to the load, and the operator returns to the control panel to initiate inboard movement of the arms 7 and 8. Thus the load is lifted on to the vehicle and the operator then locks it in position. Finally the limbs 14 and 15 are unlocked, and the legs 10 and 11 are moved up to their vertical positions.

Claims (19)

1. A load-carrying vehicle including two support members secured to the vehicle chassis, two arms each pivotally mounted in the region of one of its ends in a respective one of the support members so that the pivot axes are substantially coaxial and parallel to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle, and two beams each pivotally mounted on one of said arms in the region of the other of its ends, wherein each of said beams is connected to the respective support member by wires in such a way that, as each arm is moved about its pivot axis, the attitude of the respective beam with respect to the respective support member is maintained constant.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein one of said support members is located at the forward end of said chassis, and the other of said support members is located at the rear end of said chassis, and wherein attachment means are provided on the rear face of the forward beam, and on the forward face of the rear beam to enable a load to be attached to the respective beams by means of chains, or the like, extending between said attachment means on said beams and corresponding attachment means on the load.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each of said arms is provided with a hydraulic ram for causing pivotal motion of the respective arm about its pivot axis.

4. Avehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the common pivot axis of the arms passes through the wheels on one side of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the hydraulic rams are arranged so that each is capable of swinging the respective arm from a first position in which the pivot axis of the respective beam on the arm is located substantially on the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle, to a second position in which this pivot axis is located at a distance from the outermost part of the rear wheels on one side of the vehicle greaterthan halfthewidth ofthe load.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein a lateral leg is provided on each support member capable of being extended sideways beyond the normal width of the vehicle in order to resist any overturning moment applied to the load to the vehicle during transference ofthe load from, or to, the vehicle.

7. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6, wherein each leg is pivotally mounted on a respective one of the support members and is movable under the control of a hydraulic ram from a first position in which it is stowed inboard of the outline of the vehicle, to a second position in which it extends outwardly at least as far as the furthest location of the centre of gravity of the load during its transference from, or to, the vehicle.

8. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the outer end of each of the lateral legs is provided with a ground-engaging wheel, foot, or jack.

9. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 8, wherein an additional limb is provided to support each of said lateral legs in its second position.

10. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, wherein each of said additional limbs is pivotally mounted on the respective leg, and is inclined upwardly to the respective support member when the respective leg is in its second position.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10, wherein locking means are provided to connect the upper end of each of said additional limbs to the respective support member.

12. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the lower end of each of said additional limbs is connected to the respective leg by means of a pivotal connection which is slidable along a portion of the length of the leg.

13. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the load is supported from the beams by means of flexible members which extend from the load to a common anchorage on each of said beams, said anchorage being movable under the control of hydraulic means laterally with respect to the respective beam.

14. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein each of said arms is provided with an upper and a lower former having a substantially circular cylindrical surface, and wherein, in each beam, a first one of said wires extends from an attachment point on the respective support member, passes in one direction around the lower former, and in the same direction around the upper former, to a first attachment point on the respective beam, while a second one of said wires passes in the opposite direction around the lower former, and in the same direction as said opposite direction around the upper former, to a second attachment point laterally displaced from said first attachment point.

15. Avehicleas claimed in Claim 14, wherein at least one of the attachment points for each of said wires is adjustable.

16. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 5, wherein the cylinder each of the rams provided for moving said arms is located in the respective support member, wherein the upper end of the piston rod of each of said rams is provided with a pair of wheels running on rails provided in the respective support member, and wherein said end of said piston rod is connected to the respective arm through a lint which is pivotally attached both to said piston rod and to said arm.

17. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 7, wherein the controls for said hydraulic rams are interlocked so that the arms cannot be moved from their inboard position until the legs have been moved to their outboard position.

18. A load-carrying vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

19. Any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the load-carrying vehicle as hereinbefore described with referencetotheaccom- panying diagrammatic drawings.