GB2106870A - Improvements in or relating to the transport of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container transporting means comprises two frames (1,28), a first frame (1) having means for attaching the frame to one end of a container and also means for attaching the frame to an articulated tractor unit (12) in the form of a 5th wheel coupling (8). The second frame (28) has means for attaching the frame to the opposite end of the container and is also provided with two or more road wheels (46). Each frame is provided with means for lifting or lowering its respective end of the container. The overall length of the vehicle may be reduced by the second frame 28 including means for moving the road wheels (46) into a position underneath the container when it has been lifted into a travelling position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to the transport of containers This invention relates to road vehicles for transporting containers or other unit loads.

Standardised containers are now in widespread use in many aspects of freight haulage wherein the container is sealed at its point of departure and is transported eg by road, rail and/or sea before being unsealed at its destination. The most common standardised containers are those known as ISO containers, regulated by the International Organisation for Standardisation. ISO containers are currently of 8 foot square cross section and either 10, 20, 30 or 40 foot in length, the 20 foot and 30 foot sizes being the most commonly used.

One of the major disadvantages with transporting containers by road is that heavy lifting equipment is required when the container is being loaded or unloaded from the vehicle. Where external lifting equipment is required a vehicle is often forced to wait until such equipment becomes available with the resultant loss in time, money and space.

Vehicles are known which may lift or deposit a container without the requirement for external container handling equipment. One system comprises a fixed length vehicle with a crane attachment consisting of a pivoting beam and a telescopic jib attached at 90 thereto. The container is placed on a supporting platform constituting a secondary chassis which is then lifted by a hook on the end of the jib and hauled on to the back of the vehicle by pivoting the beam. One of the disadvantages of such a system is that the container must be lifted on or off any such secondary chassis requiring heavy lifting equipment or possibly dragged on or off.

Alternatively the container must remain on the secondary chassis throughout its journey thus requiring one chassis per container even when the containers are being loaded, unloaded or merely stacked awaiting further use.

A similar prior art system drags the container up an inclined ramp onto the back of a vehicle by means of a moveable clamp attachable to the two bottom corners at one end face of the container. Whilst removing the need for a secondary chassis this vehicle, like the first mentioned prior art system, suffers from the disadvantage that the container is lifted at an angle to the horizontal. The contents of the container must therefore be very firmly secured to avoid unwanted movement of the payload within the container.

A further disadvantage to both prior art vehicles is that with a secondary chassis required to support a container the length of the vehicle is the same whether a container is being carried or not. It is a great waste of precious shipping and storage space to have vehicles retaining their original length when not carrying a container. It is therefore highly desirable for the vehicle to be able to assume a shortened form when not carrying a container reducing storage space when stationary and forming a more stable vehicle when travelling especially when cornering.

UK Patent No. 1 341493 describes two frames which may be attached one to each end face of a container so that the container may be manoeuvred by a fork lift truck. The frames are not able to lift the container but provide means by which the fork lift truck may wheel the container over short distances.

The system is designed to be used to manoeuvre the container at its place of loading or unloading and is not suitable for transporting the container over longer distances.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, at least in part, the disadvantages of prior art described above.

Accordingly there is provided means for use in transporting a container comprising a first frame; means for attaching the first frame to one end of a container and including a 5th Wheel coupling for attaching the said first frame to an articulated tractor unit, the 5th Wheel coupling comprising an upper bearing plate secured to the first frame, the upper plate being rotatably connectable to a lower bearing plate on the articulated tractor unit; a second frame having two or more road wheels and means for attaching the second frame to the opposite end of the container, said first and second frames each including means for lifting from the ground and lowering to the ground its respective end of the container.

Preferably the frames are attachable to each of the two end faces of the container. With ISO containers all end faces are 8 feet by 8 feet square with standard attachments points at the corners. The frames are preferably provided with four fittings so designed and disposed as to be capable of attachment at the standard points.

The frames may be attached to all four corners of each end face of the container to ensure that relative movement between each frame end the container is kept to a minimum. The frames may conveniently be attached to the standard attachment points of the container by means of twistlocks or alternatively by means of hooks or shackles.

The rigidity of an ISO container is sufficient for it to be supported by its two end faces only, the requirement for any secondary chassis to support the underneath of the container being obviated. Furthermore without such a secondary chassis underneath it, the container will travel in a lower position than in many prior art systems thus creating a more stable vehicle.

Each frame may advantageously have a platform portion which may extend partly un- derneath the container to provide additional support for the container when it has been lifted into a travelling position. The platform portion serves to ensure that the entire weight of the container is not supported solely by the standard attachment points when the container is being transported.

Conveniently the platform portion is pivota bie about the frame from a position clear of the container when the container is being lifted or lowered, into a position underneath the container when it has been lifted into a travelling position. The platform portion is then locked underneath the container which is then lowered until the weight of the container is supported by the platform portion.

A standard articulated tractor such as a standard 6 X 6 wheel or 6 x 4 wheel tractor unit will require a minimum of modification in order to act as a suitable driving unit. The tractor unit will require umbilical connections to supply auxiliary power to the rear frame such as electricity for the lights and air for the brakes. These are standard fittings on normal articulated tractor units. Also where the means for lifting and lowering the container requires a working fluid, a fluid reservoir, pump and an appropriate fluid umbilical connection must be fitted to the articulated tractor unit. Alternatively the fluid reservoir and pump may be mounted on the first or second frame so that modification to the articulated tractor unit is minimised. All of these modifications may be carried out using standard items of equipment, well known in the container handling art and readily available.Therefore a standard articulated tractor unit may be easily and quickly converted at a reasonable cost into a container transporting vehicle. Furthermore when it is not required in a container transporting role, the articulated tractor may readily resume its original function.

The '5th Wheel' coupling comprises an upper bearing plate which is secured to the first frame and rotatably connected to a lower bearing plate on the tractor unit. This secures the said frame to the tractor unit whilst allowing rotational movement and transfer of load therebetween. The '5th Wheel' coupling is the most commonly used method of rotatably securing a driving unit to a load.

Conveniently means are provided for attaching the first frame to the second frame to form a shortened vehicle when no container is present. With no secondary chassis necessary to support the container, the length of the vehicle without a container is thus substantially reduced unlike prior art systems where the vehicle retains its original length even when it is not carrying a container.

Furthermore a container transporting means according to the present invention can easily adapt to differing lengths of container. ISO containers, for example, are most commonly 20 feet, 30 feet or 40 feet in length. Interchanging between different lengths is presently difficult to accommodate with a fixed length secondary chassis. With the present invention the length of the vehicle will vary according to the length of the container being carried. The vehicle can therefore carry any of the lengths of container with no additional preparations restricted only by the current road regulations on overall length of vehicles.

In the absence of an articulated tractor the first and second frames may be locked together to form a compact, self supporting unit. The articulated tractor unit is therefore free to undertake other duties when the demand for container handling is reduced. The articulated tractor unit can therefore alternate between duties as a container carrier or articulated vehicle giving a much greater flexibility of use.

Preferably each frame comprises two cooperating subframes, one subframe having a recess in which a part of the other subframe is slidably received so that the two subframes are moveable vertically with respect to each other. Conveniently one subframe is provided with fittings for attachment to the attachment points of the container and is moved relative to the other subframe to raise or lower the container.

The means for moving one subframe relative to the other preferably comprises one or more fluid actuated rams. The appropriate hydraulic or pneumatic fluid can be fed to the rams through an umbilical connection from a fluid reservoir conveniently mounted on the tractor unit or on one of the two frames.

Conveniently one subframe may be lowered to form a stabilising leg to help support each frame. Particularly, with the subframe lowered to the ground the second frame may then stand upright even when it is not attached to a container or to the tractor unit and without any additional means of support.

It is desirable in container transport to keep the overall length of the vehicle as small as possible. This may conveniently be effected by the second frame including means for moving the said two or more road wheels into a position under the container when the container has been lifted into a travelling position.

Conveniently the means for moving the wheels is a scissor link operated by a fluid actuated ram. Preferably when the ram is fully retracted the scissor link is closed locking the wheels under the container to produce a shorter, more stable vehicle.

Conveniently the scissor link may also be employed to pivot the platform portion underneath the container. Desirably the platform portion is integral with a chassis which includes the road wheels so that both the wheels and the platform portion may be pivoted underneath the container together.

The length of the vehicle when travelling may be further reduced by making the lower bearing plate of the '5th Wheel' coupling movable with respect to the tractor unit. The lower bearing plate is conveniently mounted on a hydraulic slide which may be operated to move the bearing plate towards the front of the tractor unit when the container has been lifted into its travelling position. This effectively shifts the wheels of the tractor unit rearwardly underneath the container to reduce the length of the vehicle for travelling. The lower bearing plate must however be moved to its original position to bring the tractor wheels forwards before the container may be lowered.

Alternatively the lower bearing plate may be a stationary fitment on the tractor unit and the upper bearing plate is moveable with respect to the first frame. In this instance the upper bearing plate will move rearwards with respect to the frame after the container has been lifted again to bring the wheels of the tractor unit underneath the container. The bearing plate must be moved forwards to its original position before the container may be lowered to the ground.

Additionally there may be provided means for stabilizing the first frame during lifting and lowering of the container. Conveniently the stabilizing means is in the form of two or more jacks located on the first frame such that they may be caused to bear against a suitable part of the driving unit to provide additional support for the first frame when a container is being lifted or lowered.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle incorporating container transport means according to the present invention with a container shown in its raised, travelling position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig.

1 with the container shown in a lowered position.

Figure 3 is a side view of a vehicle incorporating an alternative embodiment of container transport means in accordance with the present invention with a container shown in its raised position.

Figure 4 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig.

3 with the container shown in a lowered position.

Figure 5 is an end view of the vehicle of Fig. 4 Figure 6 is a side view of the vehicle of Fig.

1 when in an operative condition without a container.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first frame constituting a part of the vehicle of Fig.

1, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second frame constituting a further part of the vehicle of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 a container vehicle comprises a first frame shown generally at 1 and including a first subframe 2 comprising a horizontal top cross member 3 and two upright members 4. At the top of the upright members 4 are fixed two downwardly sloping arms 5 which are joined rigidly together at the apex 6 of a V shaped support 7 extending outwardly from the bottom of the two upright members 4.

Below the apex 6 is a '5th Wheel' coupling 8 comprising an upper bearing plate 9 carrying the support 7, and a lower bearing plate 10 mounted on a base 11 which forms part of an articulated tractor unit 1 2. The tractor unit and the first frame are demountably coupled together through the bearing plates 9, 10 in conventional manner such that the load is transmitted from the first frame 1 to the tractor unit 12, whilst relative rotation is permitted therebetween. A jack 1 3 is attached to each of the arms 7 such that it may be brought to engage the rear of the base 11.

Extending forwardly from the front of the tractor unit 1 2 is a hook 14.

Each upright member 4 is of U-shaped cross section forming a recess within which is constrained a second subframe 1 5. This second subframe 1 5 comprises two upright members 1 6 received within the U-shaped members 4 and a bottom cross member 1 7 therebetween.

The first and second subframes are moveable vertically with respect to each other. Attached to the upright members 1 6 are rollers 1 8 which bear against the sides of the Ushaped members 4 to guide movement of the second subframe 1 5. Connecting between the top cross member 3 on the first subframe 2 and the bottom cross member 1 7 on the second subframe 1 5 is a hydraulic ram 1 9.

Connecting the tops of the two upright members 16, forming part of the second subframe, is a rail 20 on which are slideably constrained two attachment points 24. The attachment points are adapted to connect with an ISO container 22 by means of twistlocks 23 or alternatively by means of hooks, shackles or any safe method of attachment for example as recommended by the International Organisation for Standardisation. The attachment points 24 are moveable laterally along the rail. Hydraulic rams (not shown) may be provided to facilitate movement of the attachment points or alternatively they may be mechanically driven eg by means of a leadscrew arrangement.

A similar rail 25 connects the bottom of the two upright members 1 6 and supports two lower attachment points 26. The attachment points 26 include twistlocks 27 for attachment to the ISO container 22 and are movea ble laterally as described above.

Towards the bottom of each upright mem ber 4 is attached a substantially L-shaped platform 50. The platform 50 is hinged at the toe of the 'L' such that it may assume either a first position wherein the platform extends underneath the container 22 (as shown in Fig.

1) or a second position clear of the container (as shown in Fig. 2). The platform 50 further includes a locking plate 51 which may be firmly secured to the upright member 4 by means of pins 55 to lock the platform into the first position underneath the container 22.

At the rear of the ISO container 22 is a second frame shown generally at 28. This second frame includes a first subframe 2 comprising two upright members 30, U shaped in cross section, and a horizontal top cross member 31. Within the recess formed by the U-shaped members 30 is constrained a second subframe 32 comprising two upright members 33 received within the recess in the U-shaped members 30, and a bottom cross member 34. The first and second subframes are moveable vertically with respect to each other which movement is guided by means of rollers 35 attached to the upright member 33.

A hydraulic ram 36 connects between the top cross member 31 on the first subframe 29 and the bottom cross member 34 on the second subframe 32.

Rails 37, 38 connect respectively the two tops and bottoms of the upright members 33.

Supported on the rails 37, 38 and moveable laterally thereon are upper and lower attach ment points 39, 40 similar to that previously described. The attachment points 39, 40 include twistlocks 41, 42 adapted to engage the ISO container 22.

Pivotally attached to each upright member 30 is a substantially L-shaped platform 52 similar to the platform 50. The platform 52 may be secured to the member 30 by means of a locking plate 53 and pins 56 such that it extends underneath the ISO container 22 (as in Fig. 1). Alternatively the platform 52 may hinge so that it is clear of the container (as in Fig. 2).

At the top of the upright members 30 are fixed two downwardly sloping arms 43 which connect the first subframe 29 to a rectangular chassis 44 extending from the bottom of the members 30. Mounted on the chassis 44 are two articulated axles 45 each carrying a set of road wheels 46. Extending rearwardly from the chassis 44 is a ring 47 forming a comple mentary eye for the hook 14 on the tractor unit-12.

Hydraulic fluid, compressed air and electric current are supplied to the rear frame through retractable umbilical connections 48 fed from a drum 49 mounted on the tractor unit 1 2.

The hydraulic fluid is supplied by a pump (not shown) mounted on the tractor unit. Alternatively the pump and umbilical drum may be mounted on either of the frame 1, 28.

In use the vehicle travels with the ISO container 22 raised and locked into its travel ling position as shown in Fig. 1. The platform portions 50 and 52 are secured underneath the container 22 to aid in its support, thus ensuring that the weight of the container is not borne solely by the attachment points 24, 26 and 39, 40 and their complementary attachment sockets (not shown) provided on the container.

When it is desired to deposit the ISO container 22 the jacks 1 3 are firstly lowered until they engage the base 11 mounted on the tractor unit 1 2. This provides stabilizing support for the first frame 1 when the container is being lowered or raised. The rams 1 9 and 36 are operated to raise the ISO container 22 so that its weight is no longer borne by the platform portions 50, 52. Pins 55 and 56 are then removed from the locking plates 51, 53 and the plarform portions 50, 52 are pivoted so as to hang clear of the container. The rams 1 9m and 36 are then operated to move second subframes 1 5 and 35 relative to first subframes 2 and 29 lowering the container 22 until it rests on the ground as shown in Fig. 2.Although level ground is an advantage it is not necessary for the surface on to which the container is lowered to be completely horizontal.

When the ISO container 22 is resting on the ground the twistlocks 23, 27 are operated to release the front attachment points 24, 26 from the container. The attachment points are then moved outwardly along the rails 20, 25 so as to be clear of the container 22 and the ram 1 9 operated to bring the subframe clear of the ground. The front frame 1 is now completely disconnected from the container and once the umbilical connections 48 are removed from the rear of the vehicle, it may be pulled clear of the container by driving the tractor unit 1 2 forward. The frame 1 is maintained in an upright condition even though the subframe 1 5 is raised clear of the ground by the action of the jacks 1 3 on the base 11.

The tractor unit 12, still carrying the frame 1, moves round to the rear of the container and is manoeuvred so that the front of the tractor unit engages the rear frame 28. The hook 14 on the tractor unit is then coupled with the complementary eye 47 on the rear frame firmly to secure the tractor unit 1 2 to the frame 28. This hook and eye arrangement is only one of many methods by which this may be achieved and other methods may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

Alternatively the manoeuvrability of the frame 28 may be increased by mounting the eye 47 at the apex of an 'A' frame constituted by two rods extending from the chassis 44.

This arrangement (not shown) provides a pivotable connection between the tractor unit 1 2 and the rear frame 28 in which the distance therebetween is increased to allow easier steering of the frame 28. It is convenient to provide that the two rods constituting the 'A' frame may assume a travelling position in which they lie closely alongside the chassis 44. This ensures that 'A' frame does not add to the overall length of the vehicle when it is in its travelling mode.

With the tractor unit and rear frame 28 firmly secured the umbilical connection 48 is reconnected to the frame 28 and the twistlocks 41, 42 are operated to release the attachment points 39, 40 from the ISO container. As with the front frame the attachment points are moved outwardly along the rails 37, 38 until they are clear of the container and the ram 36 is operated to lift the subframe 32 clear of the ground. The rear frame ,28 is now completely disconnected from the container and may be pulled clear by reversing the tractor unit 1 2. The connection between the hook 14 and eye 47 must be sufficiently firm to maintain the frame 28 in an upright condition even when the subframe 32 is raised clear of the ground. Both frames are now completely uncoupled from the ISO container 22 which is left freestanding.

When the frame 28 is clear of the ISO container 22, the tractor unit 1 2 is stopped and the hydraulic ram 36 operated to lower the subframe 32 until it rests on the ground.

The umbilical pipe 48 is disconnected from the frame 28 and the hook 14 on the front of the tractor unit is separated from the eye 47 on the rear frame. The frame 28 is now freestanding, supported by the lowered subframe 32 which acts as a stabilizing leg.

The tractor unit 12, with the front frame 1 still attached thereto, may be reversed clear of the rear frame 28 and driven round to the front thereof. The tractor unit and frame 1 are then reversed into position so that the two frames 1 and 28 are oppositely adjacent one to another. Hydraulic ram 1 9 is operated to lower the subframe 1 5 to the ground to bring attachment points 24, 26 into alignment with the attachment points 39, 40 on the subframe 32. The two sets of attachment points are then firmly connected together by means of adaptors 60 (see Fig. 6) which provide female connectors for the male connectors of the twistlocks 23, 27 and 41, 42 to engage.

This securely couples together the two frames 1 and 28. The umbilical connections 48 are reconnected to the rear frame 28 and both the subframes 1 5 and 32 may be jointly raised by rams 1 9 and 36 so as to be clear of the ground. The tractor unit 1 2 is then ready to move off carrying the two frames connected together as a shortened vehicle without the container 22.

Alternatively, after the two frames 1 and 28 have been coupled together the umbilical connections may be removed from both frames and the '5th Wheel' coupling 8 uncoupled to separate the tractor unit 1 2 from the front frame 1. This leaves the two frames coupled together as a freestanding unit supported by the subframes 1 5 and 32 acting as stabilized legs as shown in Fig. 6. This leaves the tractor unit free to drive away for use elsewhere.

The procedure to be followed in order to collect and lift a container is exactly the reverse of that described above and will not be further described herein.

In an alternative embodiment of vehicle shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 elements similar to those described above are denoted with like reference numerals. The articulated tractor unit 1 2 and front frame 1 are as described above except in that the lower bearing plate 10 of the '5th Wheel' coupling 8 is moveable with respect to the tractor unit 1 2. The lower bearing plate 10 is mounted on a hydraulically controlled slide which forms part of the base 11. The bearing plate 10 may therefore be moved to a rearward position for lifting or lowering the ISO container 22 (as shown in Fig. 4) or alternatively moved and locked into a forward position for travelling (as shown in Fig. 3).Moving the bearing plate 10 forward has the effect of moving the rear wheels of the tractor unit 1 2 underneath the ISO container 22 thus reducing the overall length of the vehicle.

The rear frame 28 of the embodiment of Figs. 3 to 5 comprises two cooperating subframes 29, 32 movement of which is controlled by a hydraulic ram 36. Subframe 32 carries attachment points 39, 40 as described heretofore. Pivotally connected to the subframe 29 are two triangular frames 65 spaced apart by a transverse chassis member 66 of a length slightly greater than the width of the subframe 29. The triangular frames are mounted on a pair of articulated suspension units 80 each carrying an axle 45, each axle with a set of road wheels 46. The suspension units 80 are sprung to allow vertical movement of each axle 45 and are additionally pivoted to allow limited rotational movement of the axle. Each set of wheels is thus permitted to move independently, an advantage when travelling over uneven or sloping road surfaces.The transverse chassis member carries a ring 47 for engagement with the hook 14 on the front of the tractor unit. Integral with the base of the triangular frames 65 are platform portions 67.

Connecting between the bottom of each upright member 30 and the transverse chassis member 66 are two hinged scissor links 68, one at each end of the chassis member 66.

Each scissor link 68 is provided with a hydraulic link ram 69 attached to the elbow 70 of the hinged scissor link 68, and secured at its other end to an attachment point 71 near the top of the upright member 30.

In use the ISO container 22 is lifted and locked into its raised position as previously described. With the brakes on the tractor unit 1 2 holding the vehicle stationary the hydraulic link rams 69 are retracted to act on each elbow 70 to close the scissor links 68. This pivots the triangular frames 65 about the top of the upright members 30 and drags the rear wheels 46, which are not held by the parking brakes of the tractor unit, under the ISO container 22. The frames 65 are then locked in position by means of pins (not shown) with the platform portions 67 underneath the container. The container is then slightly lowered until it rests on the platform portions 67, 50 which supports it as shown in Fig. 3. The road wheels 46 therefore travel in a position underneath the container 22 further reducing the overall length of the vehicle.

To lower the container the locking pins are removed and hydraulic link rams 69 are extended to open the scissor links 68 and pivot the triangular frames 65 back into a position where the wheels 46 are clear of the container. The ISO container 22 may then be lowered to the fround (as shown in Fig. 4) by activation of the hydraulic rams 1 9 and 36 as previously described.

Claims (22)

1. A means for use in transporting a container comprising a first frame; means for attaching the first frame at one end of a container, and including a 5th Wheel coupling for attaching the first frame to an articulated tractor unit, the 5th Wheel coupling comprising an upper bearing plate secured to the first frame, the upper plate being rotatably connectable to a lower bearing plate on the articulated tractor unit; a second frame having two or more road wheels, and means for attaching the second frame at the opposite end of the container; said first and second frames each including means for lifting from the ground and lowering to the ground its respective end of the container.

2. A container transporting means according to claim 1 wherein the lower bearing plate is moveable forwards with respect to the articulated tractor unit.

3. A container transporting means according to claim 1 wherein the upper bearing plate is moveable forwards and rearwards with respect to the first frame.

4. A container transporting means according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first and second frames are attachable at all four corners of each end face of a container.

5. A container transporting means according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first and second frames each have a platform portion capable of being positioned at least partly underneath the container.

6. A container transporting means according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the platform portions is pivotable in its frame from a position clear of the container into a position underneath the container when the container has been lifted from the ground.

7. A container transporting means according to any of the claims 1 to 6 wherein there is provided means for attaching the first frame directly to the second frame.

8. A container transporting means according to any preceding claim wherein each frame comprises two slideably interconnected subframes.

9. A container transporting means according to claim 8 wherein one of the sub-frames is provided with twistlock attachments for attachment to the container and is moveable relative to the other subframe to raise or lower the container.

10. A container transporting means according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein there is provided means for moving one subframe relative to the other comprising one or more fluid actuated rams.

11. A container transporting means according to claim 10 wherein the first frame carries a fluid reservoir and a pump connectable to actuate the one or more fluid actuated rams.

1 2. A container transporting means according to claim 10 wherein the second frame carries a fluid reservoir and a pump connectable to actuate the one or more fluid actuated rams.

1 3. A container transporting means according to claim 10 wherein the articulated tractor unit carries a fluid reservoir and a pump connectable to actuate the one or more fluid actuated rams.

1 4. A container transporting means according to any preceding claim wherein the second frame includes means for moving the said two or more road wheels into a position underneath the container when the container has been lifted from the ground.

1 5. A container transporting means according to claim 14 wherein the means,for moving the road wheels comprises a scissor link.

1 6. A container transporting means according to claim 1 5 wherein the scissor link is operable by a fluid actuated ram.

1 7. A container transporting means according to any of claims 1 4 to 1 6 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the means for moving the road wheels additionally pivots the platform portion underneath the container.

1 8. A container transporting means according to claim 1 7 wherein the platform portion is integral with a chassis which includes the two or more road wheels.

1 9. A container transporting means according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided means for stabilizing the first frame during lifting and lowering of the container.

20. A container transporting means according to claim 1 9 wherein the stabilizing means comprises two or more jacks located on the first frame such that they may be caused to bear against a suitable part of the driving unit when the container is being lifted or lowered.

21. A container transporting means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1,2,6,7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A container transporting means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.