GB2334996A

GB2334996A - Locating a demountable container

Info

Publication number: GB2334996A
Application number: GB9823902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Bolderson
Original assignee: WHEELBASE ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: WHEELBASE ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-05
Filing date: 1998-11-02
Publication date: 1999-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-02
Also published as: GB2334996B; GB9723244D0; GB9823902D0

Abstract

A locating system for use in positioning a demountable container on a load-bearing vehicle eg. a lorry. The system has remotely controlled locating members (1) which pivot relative to the chassis to engage respective cavities in the base of the container so as to locate the container in the required position on the lorry chassis. In a preferred embodiment, each locating member is in the form of a cone (26) and is mounted on a platform (12) hinged to the chassis. The platform (12) is pivoted by remote control to move the cone into and out of the respective cavity of the container.

Description

2334996 1 LOCATING APPARATUS This invention relates to a locating system

suitable for use. with demountable systems such as those used in the transport industry and more specifically, but not exclusively those used in the road haulage industry.

Many goods are transported in large containers which may themselves be transported by a lorry or ship etc. Containers to be transported by lorry are mounted and fixed in position on the load bearing section of the lorry, i.e. the lorry base chassis. The whole system is commonly referred to as a demountable system.

Demountable containers must be loaded into a predetermined position relative to the lorry chassis so as to ensure that the resultant combination of container and lorry is balanced and therefore safe for road travel. Twist locks on the lorry base engage cavities in the container sides to lock containers into position. Precise registration of the container relative to the container base is required to line up the locks and cavities so that they may be engaged. Loading the container into a predetermined position can be difficult because containers are typically very heavy even when empty.

To control the positioning of the container during loading demountable systems may be modified to incorporate locating apparatus. Typically this locating apparatus includes at least one locating member fixed to the chassis so as to protrude therefrom. The locating member is typically 2 a tubular formation having a protruding end portion, the diameter of which tapers in the direction of the end of the member. Hence, this member is commonly referred to as a locating cone.

Containers are usually purpose built not only for the particular type of _goods it will carry but also for the particular type of lorry on which it will be transported.

A container purpose built for a lorry typically has one or more funnel shaped recesses or cavities in its base, each recess or cavity being shaped and dimensioned for receipt of a respective locating cone. During loading, controlled positioning of the container relative to the lorry base is necessary in order that each recess is brought into a position to receive the protruding end of a respective locating cone. As the container is lowered further in the direction of the lorry base, each locating cone slides into a respective recess. The shape of the locating cone and recess cooperate to encourage receipt of the cone by the recess.

The relative position of the locating cone(s) and recess(es) facilitates location of the container in the required position relative to the lorry base.

One problem which may be encountered with demountable systems incorporating fixed locating apparatus such as the one described above arises out of the fact that containers are usually stored on legs which are typically fixed in length and attached to the container. When the container 3 is ready for transportation, the lorry is reversed in order to position the load bearing section of the lorry underneath the container. A pneumatic system which utilizes the pneumatic suspension system of the lorry then raises the load bearing section to the wheelbase so as to bring the load bearing section to meet the container base.

The problem is that usually the gap between the base of the container and the protruding end of a fixed locating cone may be very small therefore affording little room to manoeuvre the lorry underneath the supported container.

One solution to this problem involves the use of locating apparatus incorporating a locating cone(s) which islare movable relative to the lorry chassis. The movable cone(s) can be moved out of the way whilst the lorry is manoeuvred into position underneath the container. Once the lorry is in position, the cone can then be raised into an elevated position in which it is disposed to engage the container base cavity, as the lorry's load bearing section is elevated in the direction of the lorry base. The container is then raised so as to remove the weight of the container from the supporting legs. The supporting legs are then folded along the sides of the container. The lorry's load bearing section is then lowered to ride height in readiness for road travel.

However, problems which may be encountered with many types of 4 locating apparatus incorporating movable locating cones arise out of the fact that the moving parts of the locating apparatus may be exposed on the underneath of the lorry base and are therefore often contaminated with road grit, grease, etc., and this hinders their operation.

Furthermore, the movable locating cone is typically manually operated and controlled by a lever and this lever is usually located on the locating apparatus and therefore may be someway underneath the chassis of the lorry. This means that the lever itself will usually be covered with grit and grease, etc., making it difficult to use. Also the operator must climb or reach underneath the lorry chassis to gain access to the lever and this is at least inconvenient and could at worst be dangerous in certain circumstances, for example, if the container was dropped during loading due to faulty hydraulic legs.

It is an aim or the present invention to overcome or alleviate some or all of the above identified problems by providing a locating system which has one or more remotely operable locating members and which is suitable for use with a demountable load e.g. a container, having a cavity in the base thereof to receive the locating member. This would provide a more convenient and safer demountable system.

According to a first aspect the present invention provides a locating system for use in positioning a demountable container on a receiving surface of a vehicular load carrier, the system including at least one locating apparatus and each locating apparatus including a locating member and shift means, the shift means being operative to move the locating member relative to the vehicular load carrier between two positions, the first position in which a portion of the locating member protrudes from the receiving surface and a second position in which the locating member is withdrawn in the direction of the receiving surface, characterised in that the locating member is pivotally movable between the said positions and the locating system further includes powered control means by which the shift means is operable remote from the said at least one locating apparatus.

1 This system enables remote operation of the locating apparatus, providing a more convenient and safe demountable system.

The vehicular load carrier may be a lorry, having a load bearing chassis which has two main beam members running the length of the chassis, one along each side. The upper surfaces of the beams together define the receiving surface onto which a demountable container is mountable.

In a preferred embodiment, where the vehicular load carrier is a lorry as described above, the locating system includes four locating apparatus. Preferably two locating apparatus are located on an inner side of each beam, respectively at forward and rearward locations.

The vehicular load c 6 hassis may have locking apparatus operable to engage with carriers in the side of the container.

Thus, advantageously, the locating apparatus is located on the lorry chassis proximate to such locking apparatus.

Typically, demountable containers may have one or more cavities/ recesses in the base of the container. Positioning of the demountable container on the receiving surface of the vehicular load carrier is facilitated by the insertion of the locating member(s) into the cavity(ies) during loading.

The or each locating member may take any suitable form but, preferably, it is dimensioned so that at least a portion of the member fits into a respective cavity in the container base.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the locating member is a solid tubular formation having an end portion which tapers in the direction of the end of the member. The advantage of a locating member shaped in this way is that recesses provided in many container bases are shaped to accept such cone shaped locating members.

Thus, the locating member and recess are, by vir-tue of their respective shape and size, disposed to cooperate and encourage the cone into the recess as the container descends onto the load carrier.

Preferably, the shift means includes a platform on which the locating member is mounted.

i z 1 7 Preferably, the locating member is mounted on the platform so that the longitudinal axis of the locating member is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the platform.

Preferably, the platform, on which the locating member is mounted, includes a portion which is rotatably connected to the vehicular load carrier by a hinge, thereby disposing the platform and the locating member mounted thereon for rotation relative to the load carrier about the hinge.

Preferably, the shift means further includes a supporting member which is operative to support the rotatable platform in a position roughly aligned with the receiving surface. Preferably, the supporting member is rotatable relative to the load carrier, and is thereby operable to effect rotation of the rotatable platform and this in turn effects rotation of the locating member.

Preferably, the platform is operative to pivotally move the locating member between the first and second positions.

Preferably, when the locating member is in the first position, the platform is roughly in alignment with the plane of the load carriers receiving surface, and the locating member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the receiving surface.

Typically, the cavity(ies) in the container base are symmetrical about the cavity's central axis, and when the container is mounted on the j 8 receiving surface the axis is roughly perpendicular to the receiving surface of the vehicular load carrier. This means that the locating member, in the first position, facilitates balanced orientation of the container mounted on the vehicular load carrier.

Preferably, in a second position the locating member is withdrawn in the direction of the receiving surface so that no part of the locating cone protrudes from the receiving surface. This arrangement ensures that the locating member may be moved completely out of the way so that when the lorry is reversed to manoeuvre its load bearing section underneath a container supported on legs, there is sufficient room to do this.

However, it may be sufficient that, in the second position a part of the locating cone does protrude from the receiving surface, but to an extent which does not interfere with manoeuvring of the lorry's load bearing section underneath the supported container.

Preferably, the locating member is releasably securable in one or more positions including the above defined first and second positions.

Preferably, the powered control means incorporates a pneumatic actuator, e.g. a cylinder and ram arrangement operable to rotate the platform and locating member mounted thereon.

Preferably, the pneumatic actuator is operative to rotate the rotatable supporting member so as to effect desired 9 rotation of the rotatable platform and locating member. The pneumatic actuator may be directly or indirectly connected to the supporting member.

Similarly, of course, a hydraulic or electric actuator could perform the functions of the pneumatic actuator equally well.

Preferably, the powered control means incorporates a switch which is operative to control the operation of the pneumatic actuator.

Preferably, the powered control means includes an insulated electrical connection between the pneumatic actuator and the switch. The switch may be located in any convenient position on the vehicular load carrier, remote from the locating apparatus. In the case where the vehicular load carrier is a lorry, the switch is preferably located in the cab for the driver's convenience.

This arrangement allows the shift means to be controlled without accessing the apparatus directly which makes for a safer and more convenient demountable system. It could also save time during loading/ unloading operations.

Preferably, the locating apparatus further incorporates a lever operable to move the locating member. This lever could be used in case of failure of the pneumatic means.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of positioning a demountable container, having one or more cavities in the base thereof, on a receiving surface of a vehicular load carrier using a locating system according to the first aspect of the invention, including the steps of:

(1) pivotally moving the locating member between first and second positions by means of the shift means (2) positioning the demountable container on to the receiving surface so that the at least one locating member(s) engage(s) the cavity(ies) in the base of the container, characterised in that the method further includes the steps of:

(1) operating the shift means remote from the at least one locating apparatus using powered control means. The preferred features and advantages of this second aspect of the invention are as described for the first aspect.

A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 is a side view showing one form of a locating system according to the invention mounted on a lorry chassis with a locating member of the system in a first position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 1; and 11 Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the locating member in a second position.

Referiring to the drawings, a lorry has a load bearing chassis mo-unted on road wheels (not shown). The chassis has two main beam members running the length of the chassis, one along each side.

As shown, the beam members are of rectangular box section 2 (only one beam shown).

The upper surfaces-of the two beam members together define receiving surface 3 onto which a demountable pontainer (not shown) is mountable.

The lorry is fitted with a locating system comprising four locating apparatus 1 which are remotely operable using powered control means.

Each beam has two locating apparatus 1, for locating a demountable container, mounted on the inner side 2a of the beam 2, respectively at for-ward and rearward locations.

Two twist locks are located on the outer side of each of the beam members respectively at forward and rearward locations. These hook-like members are rotatable about pivots to engage in cavities in the container sides.

Precise registration of the container relative to the lorry chassis is required in order to line up the hook-like members with the cavities of the i 12 container and having the locating apparatus located proximate to the twist locks facilitates such precise registration.

Each locating apparatus includes shift means which consists of the following construction:

Two side plates 4 and 6 are fixed to inner side 2a of the beam at separate positions to define a gap therebetween corresponding to section 10 of the inner side 2a. Each plate has an edge contiguous with the inner side 2a of the beam and along this joint a weld runs to fix the plate to the beam. The plane of each plate 4 and 6 is substantially perpendicular to the surface of inner side 2a.

An end plate 8 is fixed to the side plates 4 and 6 so as to complete a 4sided box construction in which the side plates 4 and 6 form two afacing sides, and the other two afacing sides are provided by the end plate 8 and the section 10 of the inner side 2a. Structural support is given by an elongate cross strut 16, each opposing end of which is welded to a respective side plate 4 and 6. The cross strut is inclined at an angle of roughly 20' to the receiving surface 3.

The end plate has an upper portion which curves to form a ledge 8a which is substantially parallel to the upper face 3 of the beam 2. The [edge 8a has a perimeter in which there is a smoothly curved slot 9.

A platform 12 is located within the box construction. The platform 13 12 has opposing ends 12a and 12b, the end 12a being connected to an elongate hinge member 14 which extends along the length of end 12a.

The hinge 14 comprises two hinge members 14a and 14b which are tubular formations disposed in axial alignment, one outer hinge member 14a rota tably housing the other, iryner, hinge member 14b. The outer hinge member 14a is attached to the platform 12 along the length of the platform end 12a. The inner hinge member 14b is attached to the side plates 4 and 6, an aligned aperture in each end plate supportably housing a respective opposing end of the inner hinge member 14b. The inner hinge member 14b is fixed at one of its ends to the end plate 6 by a nut and bolt fastening. Thus, the longitudinal axis of the hinge 14 is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the beam 2 and the platform 12 is thereby disposed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the hinge 14.

The hinge 14, secured in this way, ensures that the parts of the hinge 14 which move relative to the other are not exposed to road grit and grease which would otherwise hinder the relative movement of the hinge members 1 4a, 1 4b.

A supporting member 18 has an upper end portion 18a which extends along the length of the platform end portion 12b. The opposing end portion 18b is attached along its length to an elongate bar 20 of generally circular cross-section. The bar 20 is disposed with its longitudinal 14 axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hinge 14 (both axes substantially aligned within the direction of travel of the lorry).

The bar 20 is rotatably supported at an end portion 20a and a roughly mid portion 20b by bearings located in aligned apertures in respective side plates 4 and 6. The bar 20 extends from its mid portion to meet an elongate handle 24, the longitudinal axis of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bar 20.

The handle may be an integral part of the bar 20 or a separate component affixed to the bar 20.

The locating apparatus also includes a locating member 26 which is mounted on the platform 12. The member is an elongate solid tubular formation orientated so that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the plane of the platform 12.

The locating member 26 has an end portion, the diameter of which tapers to form a generally conical end portion 26a. For this reason the locating member is commonly referred to as a locating cone.

The advantage of having a conically shaped end portion is that containers usually have cavities/recesses which are shaped to receive locating members of this shape. The locating member (or cone) 26 may be shaped so as to fit into a particular container base cavity, or vice versa.

The shift means is operative to move the container locating member relative to the lorry between two positions, the first position (shown clearly in Fig. 1) in which a portion of the container locating member protrudes from the receiving surface and a second position (shown clearly in Fig. 3) in which the container locating m receiving surface 3.

nmh,-,r is withdrawn in the direction of the In the first position the end portion 12a of the platform 12 is supported by the supporting member 18, disposing the platform 12 substantially parallel to the receiving surface 3 of the lorry. In this position, the supporting member 18 is orientated perpendicular to the platform 12 and receiving surface 3 so that the end 18a of the supporting member 18 1 2a of the platform 12. The locating member 26, abuts the end portion mounted substantially perpendicular to the hinged platform 12, protrudes substantially perpendicular to the receiving surface 3.

The locating member is thereby disposed to engage a cavity in the container base (not shown).

In the second Position the supporting member 18 is inclined to an axis parallel to the receiving surface 3 and abuts the inclined cross strut 16. The platform 12 is inclined at roughly 45 to the receiving surface 3 and the locating member 26 is withdrawn in the direction of the receiving surface 3 so that only a minimal volume of the end portion of locating member 26 protrudes from the receiving surface 3. Alternatively, the locating member 16 26 may be completely withdrawn so that no part of the locating member 26 protrudes from the receiving surface 3.

With the cone in the second position, the lorry can be reversed to position the receiving surface underneath the container when it is supported on legs, with more room for manoeuvre.

The shift means is operable to pivotally move the locating member 26 between the first and second positions in the following way:- When the locating member 26 is in the first position, as described above, the platform 12 is supported by the upright supporting member 18. The supporting member 18 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bar 20, and as the supporting member 18 rotates in direction A, an end portion 18b of the member rotates towards the hinge 14.

Upon removal of the support for the platform 12 at the end portion 12b, the platform 12, is rotatable in direction B, aided by the combined force of its own weight and the weight of the locating member 26. This moves the locating member 26 into the second position.

The ledge 8a of the end plate 8 would interfere with the movement of the locating member 26 between the first and second positions were it not for the slot 9 in the perimeter of the ledge 8a which gives the locating member the necessary room to move between the first and second positions.

17 Rotation of the supporting member 18 in the opposite direction to A effects rotation of the platform 12, returning the locating member into the first position. A stopper member 38 in the form of a bar of rectangular cross-section is welded to the end plate 8 and abuts the rotating supporting member 18 when it reaches the upright position. This prevents the supporting member from rotating any further in the opposite direction to A, as this would remove support for the platform 12 which would rotate in direction B and the locating member and move to the second position.

The locating system also includes powered control means by which the above described shift means is operable remote from the locating apparatus.

The powered control means incorporates four actuating devices, one located with each locating apparatus.

Each actuator includes a pneumatic cylinder 28 having a base portion 28a attached to one end of a rod 30. An opposing end of the rod 30 is located between two brackets 32 welded to the inner side 2a of the beam 2. The rod 30 is secured in position between the brackets 32 by a nut and bolt fastening which could of course, be replaced be e. g. a pivot pin arrangement if desired.

The pneumatic cylinder 28 is fitted with a ram which is slidable within the cylinder 28 and is connected, to one end portion of an elongate 18 connecting rod 36. The pneumatic cylinder 28, rod 30, ram and connecting rod 36 are all axially aligned. The opposing end portion of the rod 36 is attached to an end portion of a lever bracket 40 by a nut and bolt fastening. An opposing end portion of the lever bracket 40 has an aperture through which the bar 20 runs.

Each cylinder is a conventional double acting cylinder operative to produce a force in opposite directions. Each pneumatic cylinder is connected to an air supply device, which in this embodiment is an air compressor (not shown) located on the lorry. The air compressor may be one already provided on the lorry as part of the brake system or alternatively it may be a separate compressor.

Each pneumatic cylinder 28 is connected to the compressor via air supply lines (not shown) and an air supply line junction (not shown) at which point all the air supply lines meet. From the air supply line junction a central line runs to the compressor.

An air supply control valve located in the central air supply line is operable to control the air flow from the compressor to the air supply lines and thence to the cylinders. The valve is also operative to control the air-flow from the cylinders.

The valve is connected to an electric switch (not shown) by an insulated conducting wire, and the switch is located remote from the 19 locating apparatus. In this embodiment the switch is located in the driver's cab for convenience. The one electric switch is used to effect open/closure of the valve, thereby affording convenient remote control of the shift means in all four locating apparatus 1 located on the lorry.

In this embodiment the pneumatic cylinders operate as follows:

To move the locating apparatus to the first position, the valve is switched to a first position. This results in a first chamber of cylinder 28 being supplied with air at high pressure which exerts a force on the ram and as a result the connecting rod 36 slides from within- the cylinder to rotate the lever bracket 40. This action rotates the supporting member 18 into an upright position and this effects rotation of the platform 12, thereby pivotally moving the locating member 26 into the first position.

To retract the locating member into the end position, the air is supplied to a second chamber of the cylinder via the air supply lines and the valve. This retracts the ram and connecting rod 36 in the direction of the cylinder 28. The lever bracket 40 and supporting bar are thus rotated in direction A and as described above the locating member 26 is pivotally moved to the second position.

Thus to load demountable containers stored on legs, the lorry driver can, by operating a switch, retract all locating members 26 prior to reversing the load bearing chassis underneath the demountable container mounted on legs. Once the lorry is positioned correctly, by operation of the switch, the locating members are elevated to the first position. In this position they are disposed to engage cavities in the container base. The container may then be lowered onto the receiving surface 3, guided into the correct position relative to the receiving surface by the cooperation of locating members and respective cavities.

The above system incorporates a pressure relief valve, so that if one or more of the locating members 26 become stuck when pivotally moving forward to the first position, the cylinders are protected from excess pressure building up inside.

The locating cone is releasably securable in first and second positions due to opposing forces applied to the supporting member 18. In the first position, the force exerted by the pneumatic means 28 is opposed by the reaction force exerted by the stopper member 38. In the second position, the opposing reaction force exerted by the cross strut 16 is opposed by the pneumatic means 28 and the weight force of the platform and cone.

Various types of pneumatic cylinder may be use, for example, the cylinder can be fitted with a diaphragm instead of the ram.

There are many known types of pneumatic actuators whic h are suitable for this application. Similarly, other types of actuator which are suitable include the various electric actuators, e.g. solenoids, electric 21 motors, and hydraulic actuators. These are known to those skilled in the field and so will not be discussed in detail here.

In an alternative embodiment, each locating member is operably by a separate switch located in the cab of the lorry. In this case, each air supply line to the compressor includes a valve which is operable by a respective switch.

The locating apparatus may also be operated manually, for example in the event of cylinder failure. The handle 24 may be used to rotate the supporting member 18 which effects movement of the locating member between the first and second positions.

This invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A locating system for use in positioning a demountable container on a receiving surface of a vehicular load carrier, the system including at least one locating apparatus and each locating apparatus including a locating member and shift means, the shift means being operative to move the locating member relative to the vehicular load carrier between two positions, the first position in which a portion of the locating member protrudes from the receiving surface and a second position in which the locating member is withdrawn in the direction of the receiving surface, characterised in that the locating member is pivotally movable between the said positions and the locating system further includes powered control means by which the shift means is operable remote from the said at least one locating apparatus.

2. A locating system according to claim 1 in which the or each locating member is dimensioned so that at least a portion of the member fits into a respective cavity in the container base.

3. A locating system according to any preceding claim in which the or each locating member is a solid tubular formation having an end portion which tapers in the direction of the end of the member.

4. A locating system according to any preceding claim in which the shift means includes a platform on which the locating member is mounted, the longitudinal axis of the locating member being substantially perpendicular 23 to the plane of the platform.

5. A locating system according to claim 4 in which the platform includes a portion which is rotatably connected to the vehicular load carrier by a hinge, thereby disposing the platform, and the locating member mounted thereon, for rotation relative to the load carrier about the hinge.

6. A locating system according to claim 5 in which the shift means further includes a supporting member which is operative to support the rotatable platform in a position roughly aligned with the receiving surface.

7. A locating system according to claim 6 in which the supporting member is rotatable relative to the load carrier, and is thereby operable to effect rotation of the rotatable platform and this in turn effects rotation of the locating member.

8. A locating system according to any of claims 4-7 in which the platform is operative to pivotally move the locating member between the first and second positions.

9. A locating system according to any preceding claim in which, when the locating member is in the first position, the platform is roughly in alignment with the plane of the load carrier's receiving surface, and the locating member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the receiving surface.

10. A locating system according to any preceding claim in which, when 24 in the second position, the locating member is withdrawn in the direction of the receiving surface so that no part of the member protrudes from the receiving surface.

11. A locating system according to any of claims 4-10 in which the powered control means incorporates a pneumatic actuator operable to rotate the platform and locating member mounted thereon.

12. A locating system according to claim 11 in which the pneumatic actuator is operative to rotate the rotatable supporting member so as to effect desired rotation of the rotatable platform and locating member.

13. A locating system according to any of claims 11 or claim 12 in which the powered control means incorporates a switch which is operative to control the operation of the pneumatic actuator.

14. A locating system according to any preceding claim in which the vehicular load carrier is a lorry, having a load bearing chassis which has two main beam members running the length of the chassis, one along each side, the upper surfaces of the beams together defining the receiving surface onto which a demountable container is mountable.

15. A locating systetn according to claim 14 in which the locating system includes four locating apparatus, two locating apparatus being located on an inner side of each beam, respectively at forward and rearward locations.

16. A method of positioning a demountable container, having one or more cavities in the base thereof, on a receiving surface of a vehicular load carrier using a locating system according to any preceding claim, including the steps of.

(1) pivotally moving the locating member between first and second positions by means of the shift means (2) positioning the demountable container on to the receiving surface so that the at least one locating member(s) engage(s) the cavity(ies) in the base of the container, characterised in that the method further includes the step of operating the shift means remote from the at least one locating apparatus using powered control means.

17. A locating system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.