GB2246552A

GB2246552A - Demountable equipment system

Info

Publication number: GB2246552A
Application number: GB9016676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith William Dobson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-30
Filing date: 1990-07-30
Publication date: 1992-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-30
Also published as: GB9016676D0; GB2246552B

Abstract

A system for loading specific equipment onto, securing to and demounting it from a vehicle (10) whilst maintaining the equipment's orientation relative to it's vertical axis as is required for example when handling certain gas cylinders on their trolley (22). The system consists of: i. A lifting device, incorporating a sliding lifting member (11) having lifting pins (12) which is raised a lowered by a suitable jacking arrangement (15) and (16) in a linear manner, whilst being restrained by guide arrangement (13) and (14). ii. A lifting member (23) having lifting eyes (24) being attached to the equipment (22). iii. A locking device having a tongue (19) which passes through a securing slot (25), under the sliding lifting member (11) in its raised position, into a securing clevis (20). <IMAGE>

Description

Demountable equipment system This invention relates to a demountable equipment system.

Certain situations require specific equipment, carrying structures, containers or goods, (hereafter called equipment), to be loaded, secured in transit, and unloaded from a vehicle or trailer (hereafter called vehicle), whilst maintaining the equipments orientation relative to its vertical axis. For example only, welding gas cylinders are normally used in pairs on a two wheeled trolley that must stand vertically in use and transit, due to the nature of the fuel gas.

For such equipment that is manually difficult to handle, this usually entails the use of relatively expensive third party or vehicle mounted lifting apparatus, for example forklift trucks, cranes or tail lifts, to name but a few. When the frequency of, and location to which the equipment is moved does not lend itself to the above methods, an alternative solution must be sought.

According to the present invention there is provided a demountable equipment system, incorporating a lifting, securing, and lowering device which employs one or more sliding lifting members incorporating lifting features which can be raised or lowered in a controlled linear manner directly or indirectly by means of any suitable jacking arrangements that provide the required mechanical advantage.The sliding lifting member (s) is set at any angle above horizontal and up to vertical but restrained from movement in any other plane by guides that are @tta@@ed p@@@enently or releasably to the vehicle fabric..

The equipment is constructed in such a way that it has fixed lifting member (s) incorporating lifting features which mate with the slide arrangement (s) so that when raising, lowering, and/or transporting, gravity or other mechanical devices cause the mating lifting features and/or members to be drawn tightly together, rendering the equipment to be subject to the same orientational constraints relative to vertical as the sliding lifting member (s).

The mating members/features are arranged in such a way as to allow ease of attachment and detachment when the equipment is in the lowered position Alternatively, the fixed @ifting member can be attached to the vehicle, with the sliding lifting member, guides and jacking arrangement built into the demountable equipment.

A locking device(s) is provided to secure the equipment in transit position and to guard against failure of the jacking arrangement.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in perspective, the rear end of a trailer having the sliding member incorporating lifting pins, guides, jacking arrangement and securing device, permanently attached to the fabric of the trailer.

The securing device is open and thesliding lifting member is in it 5 lowest position, ready to accept the equipment. One wheel has been omitted for clarity.

Figure 2 shows in perspective, a gas cylinder trolley having a fixed lifting member incorporating lifting eyes which mate with the sliding member and pins. The gas cylinders have been omitted for clarity.

Figure 3 shows in cross section, the mating members/features in their fully raised position, with the securing device fully engaged.

Referring to the drawings, the wheeled trailer chassis 10 is constructed in such a way as to acommodate the cylinder trolley 22 within it's rear structure, when the rear closing framework 17 is closed, with securing tongue 19 passing through se securing clevis 20, and locked by means of a padlock (not shown) through the hasp 18 and staple 21 arrangement.

The guide plates 13 have guide rollers 14 positioned as required to restrain the sliding lifting member 11 with its lifting pins 12 from anything other than linear movement in the vertical plane.

The @wising arrangement 15 @@ oparated by the hydraulic jack 16 The cylinder trolley 22 has a fixed lifting member 23 with lifting eyes 24 being an integra@ part of the structure.

A securing slot 25 is provided when it has been loaded.

To load the trolley, the jack 16 is lowered, and the closing frameword 17 is opened as in figure 1 The trolley 22 is wheeled into a position whereby the pins 12 on the sliding lifting member 11 enter into the eyes 24 in the fixed lifting member 23.

The jack 16 is operated which through the raising arrangement 15 causes the slide 11 to raise, the face of the fixed lifting member 23 being drawn closely together with the sliding member 11, due to the configuration of the pins 12 and eyes 24.

When the trolley 22 ii fully raised, the rear closing framework 17 is rotated into the closed position, the tongue 19 passing through the trolley securing slot 25, and into the securing clevis 20 on the trailer chassis 10.

For final security, a padlock is inserted through the hole in staple 21.

To demount the trolley, the steps described above are carried out in the reverse sequence.

Claims

1 A demountable equipment system for lifting and holding specific equipment onto and demounting it from a vehicle by means of 2s device attached permanently or releasably to its structure, wherein the device employs one or more sliding members incorporating lifting features which can be raised or lowered in a vertical, linear manner, directly or indirectly by means of any suitable jacking arrangement. The member is restrained from movement in any other plane by guides that are attached permanently or releasably to the vehicle structure.The equipment is constructed with a fixed lifting member (s) incorporating a lifting feature(s) which mate with the lifting feature(s) on the lifting device rendering the equipment to be subject to the same orientational constraints as the device member.

2 A demountable equipment system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the sliding member is set to allow linear travel at any angle between hcrizantal and vertical.

3 A demountable equipment system as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein a locking cevice or devices is provided tn secure the eoipment in transit position and/nr to guard against failure of the jacking arranegment.

4 n demountable equipment system as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or wherein the mating members/features are arranged in such a way a to allow ease of attachment and detachment when the equipment is in the lowered position.

5 y demountable equipment system as claimed in any previous claim wherein the mating lifting members are drawn and held together by gravity and/or other mechanical means.

6 R demountable equipment system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fixed lifting member (s) is attached permanently or releasably to the vehicle, with the sliding lifting member(s), guides and king arrangement built into the demountable equipment.

7 A demountable equipment system as claimed in any previous claim wherein the equipment is raised to a pre-deter-mined position.

8 A demountable equipment system substantially as described in the specific embodiment on Page 2 of the Description with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.