GB2118519A

GB2118519A - Device for controlled inversion of a container

Info

Publication number: GB2118519A
Application number: GB08309641A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alec Kenric Marzano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-20
Filing date: 1983-04-08
Publication date: 1983-11-02
Also published as: GB2118519B

Abstract

A device for tipping a container 1 comprises a rigid support structure 7, a pair of arms 2 pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to the support structure 7 on a common, pivotal axis 6, the arms 2 being located in a common radial plane and being spaced from one another so as to be capable, in use, of embracing a container 1, drive means operable to cause the arms to pivot with respect to the support structure 7 and latching means comprising a passive component 4 carried by opposite sides of the container 1 and an active component 3 carried by each arm 2, the active components 3 being user operable and user displaceable between operational and non-operational positions, and when displaced to the operational position each becoming automatically engageable with one passive component, to prevent angular movement of the container 1 with respect to the arms 2 during pivotal movement of the latter to a tipped position wherein the container 1 may discharge its load. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for controlled inversion of a container This invention relates to a device for handling a container, e.g. a skip, with respect to a vehicle, which may be a trailer or self-propelled vehicle.

Known proposals of vehicle mounted container handling device comprise a frame pivotally attached to a static structure, the frame comprising spaced apart arms from which are suspended lifting chains adapted to engage opposite sides of the container.

With this mode of operation the container remains in a horizontal plane during the entire loading operation, or conversely the unloading operation, principally to prevent spillage from the usually open top of the container.

In certain circumstances, however, it would be advantageous to provide a tipping capability for such a containerwhereby, if vehicle mounted, the contents of the container could be emptied.

The tipping of the container is normally obtained by either (a) restraining part of the container by means of chains or rigid links which are anchored to the main frame or chassis or alternatively by (b) locating a pin into a part of the container such as a suitably designed recess. This prevents relative movement between the container and the lifting frame.

In the system described at (a) above, the inversion of the container is only partial and is not fully controlled as at one part of the rotational movement the container is suspended by means of the chains and can swing dangerously.

in the system described at (b) above, it is essential to locate the container accurately on the vehicle, thus ensuring that the tipping pins can be aligned with the recess in the container. It is sometimes difficult to achieve this, particularly on uneven ground or as a result of spilt material left on the deck of the vehicle. The invention described below is of a device which is able to tip a container in a controlled manner throughout its cycle and does not require the container to be located with any great precision on the vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for tipping a container, comprising a rigid support structure, a pair of arms pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to the support structure on a common pivotal axis, the arms being located in a common radial plane and being spaced from one another so as to be capable, in use, of embracing a container, drive means operable to cause the arms to pivot with respect to the support structure, and latching means comprising a passive component carried by opposite sides of the container and an active component carried by each arm, the active components being user operable and user displaceable between operational and nonoperational positions, each becoming automatically engageable with one passive component to prevent angular movement of the container with respect to the arms during pivotal movement of the latter to a tipped position wherein the container may discharge its load.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that when employing the device in accordance with the invention in its tipping mode i.e. with the active components displaced to their operational positions, the container is not maintained in a horizontal plane during the pivotal movement of the arms but on the contrary is latched to the arms, the passive and active components of the latching means having been interengaged by being located correctly in relation to the lifting arms by the action of gravity after having been lifted off the deck of the vehicle, and hence the container progresses through the same arc as the arms, to achieve the tipping effect.If the tipping facility is not required for the particular load involved, then the user ensures that the active components are in their non-operational positions and the container is handled in the conventional manner, remaining in a horizontal plane.

As an alternative to each arm consisting of a single, rigid arm, each arm may be of elongate, two-part construction consisting of an inner arm pivotally attached to the support structure on a common pivotal axis and an outer arm part, the outer arm part being pivotally attached to its inner arm part, a hydraulic ram pivotally connected between inner and outer arm parts, and with a container suspendable from the outer ends of the outer arm parts.

Yet again, each arm may be cranked.

In detail, the drive means may be power operated or manually operated. In the former case, the drive means may comprise a hydraulic ram or a power winch, while in the latter case the drive means may comprise a screw device or a winch. In detail, a single hydraulic ram may be located centrally of the support structure or, alternatively, two hydraulic rams may be provided, one located at each side of the support structure so as to be connected one to each arm, with a line of action in the plane of pivotal movement of its arm. Preferably, the or each ram is double-acting.

The active component, fitted to each arm, preferably consists of a relatively short link, one end being pivoted to the arm and the other end having a movable pin mounted in a bore coaxial with the pivot pin. The pin mounted in the bore is capable of sliding by manual adjustment between inner and outer positions (i.e. towards the container or away from the container). When both pins are away from the container, and the arms are actuated, the container is lifted off the carrying vehicle and, being suspended by suitable rope or chains, is able to be moved outboard of the vehicle.

The passive component, mounted on the container itself, preferably consists of a suitably shaped profiled recess attached to each longitudinal side of the container. Because of the length of the suspension ropes, the container is located on the vehicle in a position such that the profiled recess, which is located proud of the container side, is sufficiently distant from the sliding pin to ensure that the sliding pin is free to travel up to the side of the container even though the container may not be Icoated exactly.

When the two pins are engaged, the system is said to be in the tipping mode. Angular movement of the arms will cause the sliding pin to prescribe a path on a radius concentric with the arm pivot. As soon as the container is lifted, it will always prescribe the same path as dictated by the movement of the arms and the progress of the container in a horizontal direction as dictated by the suspension elements.

The geometry is such that after a relatively short movement the two paths cross and the sliding pin engages in the recess exactly and prevents any further appreciable movement of the container relative to the arms.

The sliding pins may each incorporate an end plate which will then engage behind the interfering profiled recess and eliminate any danger of the container becoming disengaged during its tipping movement.

The arms may be attached at their inner ends to the support structure on coaxial pivot pins. Furthermore, the arms are preferably mechanically connected together. The mechanical connection may comprise a beam connected between outer ends of the two arms to form an inverted 'U'-shaped frame or, alternatively, may comprise a beam connected between inner ends of the two arms to form a 'U'-shaped frame.

Usually, it will be required for each arm to carry suspension elements by which a container may be suspended from the arms. The suspension elements may be flexible, e.g. comprising four chains or ropes, or rigid e.g. comprising four links. Furthermore, each arm is provided towards its outer end with a pivotably mounted suspension plate located inboard of each arm and provided with two apertures for connection to two suspension elements.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trailer vehicle incorporating a device for tipping a container, as hereinbefore defined.

The device is removably attached to the trailer and the support structure may conveniently be constituted by the trailer chassis. Furthermore, the trailer preferably carries a power pack comprising a hydraulic pump having appropriate controls and drivable from a trailer mounted internal combustion engine or from a trailer mounted battery pack. In detail, the power pack may be located at one end of the trailer adjacent a towing hitch and the arms pivotally attached to the support structure at the other end of the trailer. In this embodiment, ground engageable outrigger pads are preferably carried by the trailer also in the vicinity of the points of pivotal attachment of the arms to the support structure.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-propelled vehicle incorporating a device, as hereinbefore defined. The power source in this case may be derived from the engine which drives the vehicle itself.

Basically, the container may be a skip, a tank or a concrete mixing unit.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device according to the invention incorporated in a self-propelled vehicle; Figure 2 is also a side elevation showing the tipping cycle at stages A and B.

A skip shown at 1 is at rest on a rigid support structure 7 e.g. the deck or platform of a selfpropelled vehicle viz. a small truck having a chassis 8, and this is the skip/vehicle location for skip transit purposes.

In Figure 2 at position 'A' the skip 1 has been lifted by a small clockwise rotation of the arms 2, for instance by partial extension of a pair of hydraulic rams (indicated in dotted line) one located at each side of the skip 1 and connected between the support structure 7 and one arm 2. At position 'B' in Figure 2, the skip 1 is shown in the tipping position, with latching pins 3 (constituting an active component of a skip-to-arms latching means) carried by each arm 2 having automatically engaged into a sideplate jaw 4 (constituting a passive component, in the form of a profiled recess, of the latching means).

Lifting elements 5 are preventing rotation of skip 1 relative to arms 2, the arms being pivotally attached at 6 to the support structure 7.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of sideplate jaw 4 and latching pin 3.

When each pin 3 is retracted i.e. is displaced by the user to its non-operational position away from the skip, the skip 1 is able to be loaded and off-loaded from the vehicle without any inversion taking place.

However, when the latching pins 3 are displaced into their operational positions i.e. are moved in towards the skip 1, the device is ready to be operated and tip the skip 1.

Each side plate jaw 4 is secured by bolting or welding at each longitudinal side of the skip 1 and in Figure 3, the profile of the sideplate jaw 4 is indicated at positions a, b, c, d, e, by dotted lines. This path is prescribed by the initial free movement of the suspended skip 1 whilst arm 2 is rotating relative to the support structure 7 (see Figure 2).

The centre of latching pin 3 is similarly plotted in Figure 3 at positions f, g, h, i, j, k, I. Pivoting link 9 has rotary movement, constrained by physical stops 10 and 11.The movement, however, is sufficient to enable latching pin 3 to adjust its position and ride along cam face 12 and eventually accurately engage into sideplate jaw 4. This occurs soon after positions 5.

Each latching pin 3 has a protruding flange at the extremely nearest the skip (see Figure 4) which will prevent lateral movement of skip 1.

As arms 2 continue to rotate, the skip 1 is prevented from continuing to hang freely and is, therefore, rotated by the combined action of tipping pin 3 and suspension elements 5. The lower suspension element 5, as shown at position 'B' in Figure 2, prevents skip 1 from rotating further out of control should the centre of gravity go to the right of latching pin 3.

Claims

1. A device for tipping a container, comprising a rigid support structure, a pair of arms pivotally attached at inner ends thereof to the support struc ture on a common pivotal axis, the arms being located in a common radial plane and being spaced from one another so as to be capable, in use, of embracing a container, drive means operable to cause the arms to pivot with respect to the support structure, and latching means comprising a passive component carried by opposite sides of the container and an active component carried by each arm, the active components being user operable and user displaceable between operational and nonoperational positions, each becoming automatically engageable with one passive component to prevent angular movement of the container with respect to the arms during pivotal movement of the latter to a tipped position wherein the container may discharge its load.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each arm is of elongate, two-part construction, consisting of an inner arm part pivotally attached to the support structure on a common pivotal axis and an outer arm part, the outer arm part being pivotally attached to its inner arm part, a hydraulica ram pivotally connected between each inner and outer arm part, and with a container suspendable from the outer ends of the outer arm parts.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 ,wherein the arms are each cranked.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the drive means is power operated.

5. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive means is manually operated.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the drive means comprises a hydraulic ram.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the drive means comprises a power winch.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the drive means comprises a screw device.

9. A drive means as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the drive means comprises a winch.

10. A drive means as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a single hydraulic ram is located centrally of the support structure.

11. A drive means as claimed in Claim 6, wherein two hydraulic rams are provided, one located at each side of the support structure so as to be connected one to each arm, with a line of action in the plane of pivotal movement of its arm.

12. A drive means as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein the or each ram is double-acting.

13. A drive means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the active component consists of a relatively short link, one end being pivoted to the arm and the other end having a movable pin mounted in a bore co-axial with the pivot pin.

14. A drive means as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the pin mounted in the bore is capable of sliding, by manual adjustment between inner and outer positions.

15. A drive means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein each passive component consists of a suitably shaped profiled recess attached to each side of the container, proud of the container side.

16. A drive means as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the sliding pins each incorporate an end plate adapted to engage behind an associated profiled recess.

17. A drive means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the arms are attached at their inner ends to the support structure on co-axial pivot pins.

18. A drive means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the arms are mechanically connected together.

19. A drive means as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the mechanical connection comprises a beam connected between outer ends of the two arms to form an inverted U-shaped frame.

20. A drive means as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the mechanical connection means comprises a beam connected between inner ends of the two arms to form a U-shaped frame.

21. A drive means as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein each arm carries suspension elements by which a container is suspendable from the arms.

22. A drive means as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the suspension elements are flexible.

23. A drive means as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the suspensions elements comprise four chains.

24. A drive means as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the suspension elements comprise four ropes.

25. A drive means as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the suspension elements are rigid.

26. A drive means as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the suspension elements comprise four links.

27. A drive means as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 26, wherein each arm is provided towards its outer end with a pivotally mounted suspension plate located inboard of each arm and provided with two apertures to connection to two suspension elements.

28. Atrailervehicle incorporating a device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 27.

29. A trailer vehicle as claimed in Claim 28, wherein the device is removably to the trailer.

30. A trailer vehicle as claimed in Claim 28 or 29, wherein the support structure is constituted by the trailer chassis.

31. A trailer vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 28 to 30, carrying a power pack comprising a hydraulic pump having appropriate controls and drivable from a trailer mounted power source.

32. A trailer vehicle as claimed in Claim 31, wherein the power source is an internal combustion engine.

33. A trailer vehicle as claimed in Claim 31, wherein the power source is a battery pack.

34. A trailer vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 31 to 33, wherein the power pack is located at one end of the trailer adjacent a towing hitch, and the arms are pivotally attached to the support structure at the other end of the trailer.

35. A trailer vehicle as claimed in Claim 34, wherein ground engageable outrigger pads are carried by the trailer in the vicinity of the points of pivotal attachment of the arms to the support structure.

36. A self-propelled vehicle incorporating a de vice as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 27.

37. A self-propelled vehicle as claimed in Claim 36, when appended to Claim 4, wherein power for the drive means is derived from the engine which drives the vehicle itself.

38. A device for tipping a container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

39. A self-propelled vehicle, provided with a device for tipping a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.