GB2088295A

GB2088295A - Transporting Cart or Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2088295A
Application number: GB8041094A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TORWEGGE HEINRICH
Current assignee: TORWEGGE HEINRICH
Priority date: 1980-11-24
Filing date: 1980-12-22
Publication date: 1982-06-09
Also published as: FR2494656A1; LU83056A1; BE887028A; DE3044173A1; NL8007013A

Abstract

A wheeled chassis 1, has a handle 5 and supports a carrying part 8 adapted to engage under a reinforced edge of the container 2. The carrying part 8 is pivotable at 10 for the purpose of taking up and depositing the container, and is secured relative to the chassis in its container transporting position by means of detent bolt 15 entering sleeve 13. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport Cart for Containers The invention relates to the production of a transport cart which is constructed on simple and inexpensive lines and which is easy to handle and which enables containers, particularly containers filled with mortar, to be transported while held in a stable position, the operation of taking up and settiny down the container by the operator being an extremely simple one which can be carried out automatically without any additional manipulations.

The invention enables this object to be achieved by means of the characterising features of patent claim 1 , while the constructional characteristics indicated in the subsidiary claims constitute technically advantageous further developments of the method of solving the problem concerned.

The object of the invention extends not only to the characteristics indicated in the individual claims but also to a combination of these features.

The transport cart to which the invention relates enables containers, particularly containers filled with mortar, to be taken up, transported and deposited by one single operator in a simple manner. The mortar containers filled by a mortar supplying firm are in most cases deposited on the road and then have to be transported to the place where they are to be used on the building site. For this purpose the transport cart covered by the invention is an ideal means of transport, as owing to its carrying part, which can be fixed in position by a pivot action and together with the chassis, can be pushed in under the reinforcement edge of the mortar container concerned in a simple, rapid and reliable manner, the container being embraced on three sides in such a way as to secure it in position.For this operation of taking up a mortar container the chassis can be tilted upwards while the carrying part remains in the approximately horizontal position in which it is taken up. By subsequently tilting the chassis downwards into the travelling position the container is raised off the carrying part, while at the same time the container is secured to the chassis, so that the cart can then be transported together with the container which it accommodates.

The process of depositing the container at the place of destination comprises the same operations in the reverse order.

The transport cart is simply and economically designed and producible, having a very stable construction which also carries considerable loads.

A particularly advantageous feature is the fact that this cart can be automatically moved into the load-receiving and depositing position by one operator without any additional manipulations, the operation of securing the carrying part to the chassis taking place automatically, this locking action being releasable by a manual operation.

One constructional example of the invention will be explained below in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container transport cart, shown in the container-receiving and depositing position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same transport cart in the container-transport position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the transport cart without the container, the latter having been deposited; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the transport cart.

The item marked 1 is a chassis, of the transport cart to which the invention relates, constructed for containers 2, particularly auto-containers, the chassis being "stirrupshaped" and supported on and movable along the ground by means of two running wheels 3. These two running wheels 3 are mounted, for rotation about an axis 4, in the free longitudinal ends of the branches of the Ushaped chassis 1 of which the open part of the "U" configuration is situated forwards as viewed in the direction of travel. To the middle of the cross piece of the chassis 1 is affixed an operating lever 5 which is directed towards the rear and vertically upwards and which is fitted with transversal handles 6, so that this operating lever 5 enabies the transport cart to be pushed or pulled.

Underneath the operating lever 5 the chassis 1 is fitted, on its crosspiece, with a supporting foot 7 which is directed downwards and by means of which the cart, in the non-travelling position, can be caused to rest on the ground. For the purpose of taking up, transporting and depositing a container 2 the transport cart has a carrying part 8 which engages underneath the reinforcement edge 2a of the container 2 an- which rests in a vertically pivotable manner on the chassis 1 and which can be fixed in position in relation to the chassis 1 when it occupies the position for carrying the container 2.

The carrying part 8 is likewise "stirrupshaped", with the open part of its "U" configuration facing forwards as viewed in the direction of travel, so that the cart can be pushed up to the container 2 received within this open portion of the carrying part, i.e. the carrying part 8 then rests by the two branches 8a of the "U" configuration against the outside of the lateral walls of the container 2, and the crosspiece 8b of the "U" configuration is at the front side of the container 2, the said crosspiece 8b at the same time delimiting the distance to which the carrying part 8 can be pushed into position about the container 2. In this position, in which it has been pushed onto the container, the carrying part 8 rests underneath the peripheral, outwardly projecting reinforcement edge of the container 2, and the said container 2 can be suspended therein for transport purposes.

On each of the two sides of the "U" of the chassis 1, in the vicinity of the running wheels 3, there is supported a bearing bracket 9, which consists of two struts, one slanting upwards and the other downwards, and which, in its upper free end zone, accommodates the carrying part 8 in a vertically pivotable manner on a pivot shaft 10; for this purpose the carrying part 8 is provided, for example, with a bearing sleeve 11 affixed to the bottom of each of its "U" branches, the pivot shafts 10 engaging the said bearing sleeves. This pivot shaft 10 is arranged on the chassis 1 in such a manner that in the container-transporting position it will be situated almost vertically above the axis 4 of the running wheel (cf. Fig. 2), thus assisting the operation of taking up the iead and enabiing the cart with its load to travel more easily.The bearing sleeves are accordingly affixed, at a certain distance from the free ends of the "U" branches 8a of the carrying part, to the said carrying part 8.

To the cross piece 8b of the "U" configuration of the carrying part, in the vicinity of the lateral "U" branch 8a, and preferably in the vicinity of the right-hand "U" branch 8a, as viewed in the direction of travel, is affixed a detent sleeve 13 with bolt guides 14 in the form of crosspieces, the said sleeve interacting, in the transporting position, with a detent bolt 1 5 which is situated on the chassis 1 and with which it forms a locking device 12 for the carrying part 8.

The said indent bolt 1 5 is affixed to the upper end of an upright detent lever 1 6 in such a way as to point in the direction of travel, and the said detent level 1 6 rests, in such a way as to be pivotable in the direction of travel and also in the opposite direction, against the crosspiece of the "U" configuration of the chassis 1. In addition, by means of its lower longitudinal end, situated underneath the chassis 1 , the lever 1 6 is rigidly connected to a foot lever pointing in the opposite direction to that of the travel, so that when the foot lever 1 7 projecting beyond the chassis 1 and towards the rear is actuated the detent lever 1 6 with the detent bolt 1 5 is then pivoted.To the detent lever 1 6 is affixed a horizontal pivot shaft 1 9 which pivotably engages in the bearing sleeve 18 provided on the crosspiece of the "U" configuration of the chassis 1.

A traction spring 20 affixed by one end to the detent lever 1 6 and by the other end to the chassis 1 operates as a return and securing spring, inasmuch as it holds the detent lever 1 6 in the position for locking the carrying part and restores the. said lever to the said position. As a means of securing the spring the chassis 1 and the detent lever 1 6 are fitted with crosspieces 21 into which the spring 20 is suspended by one end.

The foot pedal 17 is provided, at its free longitudinal end, with a foot plate 1 7a.

The chassis 1 and the carrying part 8, as well as the manual lever 5, are preferably made of metal, from tubes of square or rectangular cross section, although they may also consist of round tubes.

The transport cart of the invention operates as follows: For the purpose of taking up a filled container 2 standing on the ground, the foot pedal is first of all operated in order to release the carrying part 8 from the chassis 1, inasmuch as the foot pedal 17 pivots the detent lever 1 6 towards the rear and in opposition to the force of the spring (and in the opposite direction to the travel of the apparatus) so that the detent bolt 1 5 disengages from the detent sleeve 13.The chassis 1 can now be tilted upwards by means of the hand lever 5, in which process the axes 4 of the wheels serve as pivot shafts, the carrying part 8, vertically pivotable about the horizontal pivot shafts 10, remaining in the approximately horizontal position for taking up the load, this being due to the fact that the pivot shaft 10 is situated in the front zone of the carrying part 8, so that the rear portion of this latter is heavier and thus pivots downwards at the same time as the chassis 1 is pivoted upwards the carrying part 8 supporting itself on a side supporting lug 22 of the chassis 1.The cart, thus tilted upwards, is now moved towards the container 2, so that the carrying part 8 extends beyond the outside of the lateral walls of the container and comes to rest underneath the reinforcement edge 2a of the said container (cf.

Fig. 1).

When the carrying part 8 has been pushed towards the contai,34 2 as far as the stop (the crosspiece Bb of its "U" configuration) the container can be handled. For this purpose the cart is once again tilted downwards, by its chassis 1, using the axes 4 of the wheels as pivot bearings, in that the operator grips the hand lever 5 by its handles 6 and pivots it downwards; in order to provide additional force for this operation he can press the "U" crosspiece of the chassis 1 with his foot, thus facilitating the task of pivoting the chassis 1 downwards. In this downward pivoting operation the "pendulum-mounted" carrying part 8 comes to rest underneath the reinforcement edge 2a of the container 2, and this latter is lifted to a certain distance, e.g. 10-20 cm, off the ground.During the operation of pivoting the chassis 1 downwards, the detent bolt 15, which accompanies this motion, enters the zone of the detent sleeve 1 3 and is enabled to engage the said detent sleeve 13 easily and reliably by means of the bolt guides 14, thus fixing the position of the carrying part 8 in relation to the chassis 1.

The chassis 1 is now moved, by means of the hand lever 5, into the most convenient position for the operator, and pivoted upwards by a greater or smaller distance, so that the vertical position of the container 2 in relation to the ground is likewise altered. The container 2 can now be transported with the cart to the required place (cf.

Fig. 2).

The process of depositing the container 2 consists of the same operations in the reverse order, inasmuch as the foot lever 1 7 is actuated for the purpose of releasing the detent device 12 and the hand lever 5 is raised, tilting the chassis 1 at the same time, in order to deposit the contaiher 2 on the ground. The cart is then moved away from the container towards the rear, so that the carrying part 8 is deteched from the container 2 (cf. Fig. 1).

It is also within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims, to construct the detent device 12 in a different manner and provide it in some other position on the cart.

Claims

1. A transport cart for containers, having a chassis supported by wheels, and a hand lever provided on the said chassis and serving as a thrust or traction lever, characterised in that the chassis supports a carrying part which engages underneath a reinforcement edge of a container and which is vertically pivotable for the purpose of taking up, transporting and depositing the said container, said carrying part being, in the container-transporting position, fixed in its position in relation to the chassis.

2. A transport cart, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrying part is "stirrup-shaped" and has the open part of its "U" configuration facing in the direction of travel, the said carrying part surrounding three sides of a container.

3. A transport cart, in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the two branches of the "U" configuration of the carrying part is mounted in a vertically pivotable manner, by means of a respective horizontal pivot shaft, on a bearing bracket resting on the chassis in the vicinity of the running wheels, said pivot shaft being situated at a smaller distance from the free ends of the "U" branches than from the crosspiece of the "U" shaped carrying part and, in the containertransporting position, being situated in an almost vertical plane with the axis of the running wheel and above said axis.

4. A transport cart, in accordance with claim 3, wherein the chassis has, in each of its two lateral zones, a bearing bracket which is formed by two structs, one slanting upwards and the other slanting downwards, and of which the upper end zone accommodates the pivot shaft about which the carrying part is pivotably mounted by a respective bearing sleeve, the said sleeve being affixed to the lower side of the associated branch of the "U" configuration.

5. A transport cart, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the carrying part and the chassis carry parts of a detent device which fixes the carrying part in the container-transporting position, said parts being separable by means of a foot pedal or hand lever.

6. A transport cart in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the crosspiece of the carrying part is fitted, in the vicinity of a "U" branch, with a detent sleeve which projects in the opposite direction to travel and which is provided with bolt guides, the upper end of the detent lever pivotable about a horizontal shaft 1 9 on the chassis being provided with a detent bolt interacting with the detent sleeve, the detent lever being subject to the action of a restoring spring which secures it in and moves it into the locked position and is affixed to the detent lever and to the chassis, the said lever also being rigidly connected, by its end situated underneath the chassis to a foot pedal fitted with a foot plate.

7. A transport cart, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the detent lever, by means of its pivot shaft, rotatable engages the bearing sleeves affixed to the chassis, and wherein crosspieces, enabling the restoring spring to be secured at both ends, are provided on the said chassis and detent lever.

8. A transport cart, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the chassis is stirrupshaped, the open part of its "U" configuration facing in the direction of travel, the free longitudinal ends of its two "U" branches each accommodating a running wheel with a horizontal axis, each "U" branch being fitted with a bearing bracket and wherein the hand lever directed upwards and fitted with four transversal handles, and the supporting foot projecting downwards, are mounted in the middle of a crosspiece provided at the rear of the "U" configuration.

9. A transport cart, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a supporting lug, for the carrying part pivotable between the chassis is provided on one "U" branch of the said chassis.

10. A transport cart, in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the chassis, with the hand lever and the supporting foot and the carrying part as well at least to some extent the bearing brackets, are made of metal tubes with a square or rectangular cross section.

11. A transport cart substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.