GB2569437A

GB2569437A - Apparatus for loading goods

Info

Publication number: GB2569437A
Application number: GB1817227.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Cartwright Alan
Original assignee: Tiger Trailers Ltd
Current assignee: Tiger Trailers Ltd
Priority date: 2017-10-24
Filing date: 2018-10-23
Publication date: 2019-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-23
Also published as: GB201817227D0; GB201717462D0; GB2569437B

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for loading goods onto a vehicle comprising a platform deck 11 mounted on a plurality of hydraulically operated cylinders / rams 20, mounted on a trunnion mount point 21. Platform 11 may be moved between horizontal and vertical positions and hydraulic cylinders / rams 20 are provided in pairs, as master and slave rams, and at the front 15 and rear 19 of platform 11. A pair of gates 18, 19 are provided and apparatus 10 may further have a vertical moving deck structure 12, struts 17, and side elements 14.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading goods. The invention has particular, but not exclusive application in the loading and unloading of goods to and from a vehicle from a store for the goods, such as a warehouse. The invention may be used to load vehicles having more than one deck for the transport of goods.

Existing applications of this type tend to use a complicated system of cables and pulleys.

The present invention seeks to prove an alternative approach.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for loading goods onto a vehicles trailer, the apparatus comprising a platform mounted on a plurality of hydraulically operated rams.

At least some of the hydraulic cylinders/rams may be mounted on trunnion mount points.

In one embodiment the apparatus comprises four hydraulically operated rams. These cylinders may be mounted at the comers of the platform.

The cylinders may be provided as connected pairs at the front and rear of the platform respectively, with master and slave rams.

The platform may be moveable between raised and lower positions.

The platform may be moved between horizontal and inclined positions, the inclination being between the front and rear of the platform.

A bridge plate may be provided at the front of the platform. This may move horizontally between retracted and extended positions.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood specific embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for loading goods in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in which the loading deck is in a raised position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 shown in the position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 in which the loading deck is in a raised position and in which the deck is raised at the rear of the apparatus in relation to the front such that the deck is inclined;

Fig. 6 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1 located in a building;

Fig. 7 shows a trailer location device for the apparatus of Fig. 1 onto which the rear of a vehicle may be reversed;

Fig. 8 shows the power unit for the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 shows the power unit of Fig. 8 loaded in a sub assembly with a removable access hatch;

Fig. 10 shows the rear of the apparatus of Fig. 1 from front (Fig. 10b) and rear (Fig. 10a);

Fig. 11 shows an entry/exit bridge plate for the deck of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the bridge plate being in a first position.

Fig. 12 shows the bridge plate of Fig. 11 in a second position;

Fig. 13 shows an underplan view of the deck of the apparatus with the bridge plate in a first retracted position;

Fig. 14 shows an underplan view of the deck of the apparatus with the bridge plate in a second extended position;

Fig. 15 shows a retractable walling unit for use with the apparatus of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a further apparatus for loading goods in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figs. 17 and 18;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of one of the hydraulic rams of the apparatus of Figs. 16 to 18;and

Fig. 20 shows the movement of the ram within its outer casing by way of dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings an apparatus 10 for loading goods to and from a vehicle trailer from a warehouse comprises a platform deck 11 onto and over which goods may be moved to and from the trailer and warehouse. This forms part of a vertically moveable deck structure 12 having two sides 13, 14 and front 15 and rear 16 ends. The sides 12, 13 of the deck structure each comprise a load-bearing superstructure composed of a truss, a structure of connected metal beams forming a series of triangular units between the deck and an upper beam. Struts 17 extend between the two upper beams to provide stability. Sheets of metal are provided on the inside of the metal beams defining the sides of the deck structure to ensure that goods may not drop from the sides.

The front end of the deck structure comprises a pair of gates 18 which, when opened, allow goods to be moved to and from the front of the apparatus. Similarly gates 19 are provided at the rear of the deck structure.

The above described deck structure 12 is mounted at its corners on four hydraulic cylinders/rams 20 which in turn are mounted on trunnion mount points 21. These enable the deck to pivot as required to access different trailer floor heights. This is particularly useful for loading and unloading multi-deck trailers. Additionally the apparatus of the invention obviates the need in the warehouse for in-built dock levellers, saving on substantial costs during construction of the warehouse, as well as maximising available warehouse floor space. The four cylinders/rams 20 are double acting and matched as pairs across the width of the product at the front 15 and rear 16 ends of the deck structure. In these pairs there are master and slave rams as the oil from the annulus side of the master ram powers the piston side of the slave ram. Thus the oil is trapped in the circuits of all the cylinder pairs ensuring a level lift across the width of the deck, even in the event of an uneven load on the platform.

The front and rear pair of cylinders are controlled independently such that the platform can either be raised level, or if the operator requires it may be tilted to enable a smoother loading or unloading operation as shown in Fig. 5.

The lift system incorporates pilot-operated check valves (POCV) built into each lift cylinder as in the unlikely event of a hydraulic pipe, or fitting failure then the POCV will activate and prevent the platform dropping inadvertently.

Fig. 6 shows the apparatus of Figs. 1-5 located in a building structure 30 to protect the apparatus from the weather. The apparatus of the invention is not connected to this building 30 which houses the apparatus. Thus none of the loads or forces applied to the deck are transferred to the building structure. Thus the building, provided for weatherproofing, may be constructed in a more simple and economical manner as it is not supporting the deck. All loads induced by the apparatus of the invention go through the base of the lift rams which are mounted on steel pedestals, bolted to the concrete yard.

Fig. 7 shows an independently mounted trailer location device 40 which is presented as one complete assembly, separate from the main deck lifting apparatus. This ensures that even if the trailer location device is badly damaged, the forces exerted on it do not damage either the deck structure, or the building. The trailer location device is shown in place in Fig. 6. This includes a base with two tubular side rails 42, 42 extending upwardly from the sides of the base, each extending outwardly at the front to provide an open mouth 44. In use these tubular side rails rub against the trailer tyres. Short side walls are presented at the rear of the base abutting the side rails. In use the trailer is reversed onto the base 41 between the side rails to ensure the trailer is correctly positioned against the deck structure.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the power pack 50 and power pack sub-assembly 51 for the apparatus of the invention. A removable hatch is provided in the sub assembly to provide access to the power pack.

With reference to Fig. 10 the lift system for the deck comprises a rear mounted triangular shaped heavy duty guidance system 60 which guides a spigot mounted to the end of one side of the trunnion on the hydraulic lift cylinders/rams. This means that regardless of the position of the lift cylinders the deck is guided to prevent any fore to aft movement. This unique feature means that no guidance is required to the front cylinders, which reduces the cost of the system and enable it to pivot in a simple fashion.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12 the front of the platform deck comprises a horizontally powered bridge plate 70 as opposed to the pivoting type conveniently provided in the prior art. The bridge plate incorporates pressure relief valves to limit the travel of the bridge plate when it connects with the trailer floor, or any of the trailer floors of a multi-deck trailer. This feature prevents any damage to the trailer by the plate. Fig. 14 shows that the bridge plate has a hinged leading edge 71 which provides an angled approach to ensure the smooth transition for the load to move from the trailer to the platform or vice versa. This bridge plate may be moved from a first retracted position shown in Fig. 13 in which it is located under the deck to a second extended position where it extends from the deck as shown in Fig. 14 and Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 15 shows a telescopically opening walling cassette 80. These may be provided adjacent the front, rear and/or sides of the platform, as required, to prevent people walking beneath the platform when raised. When the platform is raised the walling unit is raised from the position shown in Fig. 15a to that illustrated in Fig. 15b.

Returning to Figs. 16 to 20 a further apparatus 90 for loading goods is illustrated which is particularly suitable for retrofitting into an existing or new pod building after the building has been built, without taking the building down. This has been achieved by providing the platform in two halves, split longitudinally down the middle 91. This enables the apparatus 90 to be positioned in the building through the restrictive pod building door aperture, this being the one at the front into the yard area of the warehouse site. Once inserted in position inside the building the two halves may be secured together by bolts.

In the previously described embodiment the ram designs have trunnions which enable the rams to pivot on turning and rotate slightly in relation to the deck. With reference to Figs. 19 and 20 an alternative ram arrangement 95 is shown, for use in heavy arduous conditions, the arrangement comprising a ram mounted in an inner and outer box section arrangement, there being an overlap of the two box sections. An advantage ofthis is that the construction of the deck is then simplified as it only requires four comer boxes, and the overlap of the inner box, ensures any side loadings on the rod of the ram are 10 removed. Therefore the ram rod is better protected from both side forces and accidental damage.

The inner boxes have feet attachments which will enable the deck to angle downwards and simply allow the inner box to roll fore to aft.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are described byway of illustration only. Many variations are possible.

Claims

1. An apparatus for loading goods onto a vehicle trailer, the apparatus comprising a platform mounted on a plurality of hydraulically operated rams.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platform is solely mounted on hydraulically-operated rams.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the platform is mounted on at least four hydraulically-operated rams.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cylinders are provided as connected pairs, with master and slave rams.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connected pairs are provided at the front and rear of the platform respectively.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the platform may be moved between horizontal and vertical positions.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the hydraulic cylinders and/or rams is mounted on a trunnion mount point.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of cylinders and/or rams are mounted on trunnion mount points.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein before described with

5 reference to the accompanying drawings.