GB476705A - Improved freight handling vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

476,705. Handling removable loadcontainers. FITCH, B. F. Sept. 1, 1936, No. 23949. Convention date, Sept. 9, 1935. [Class 78 (iv)] Means for handling transferable load-containers comprises a power-driven highway tractor, a trailer coupled thereto, guideways on the trailer for supporting the load container, mechanism for moving the container along the guideways and an electric motor on the trailer for actuating this mechanism ; the motor being actuated by a suitable source of power which may be an electric generator mounted on the tractor and coupled with the propelling motor. Fig. 3 shows a road vehicle comprising a tractor T and trailer T<1> connected by a pair of bridging- members B with a railway truck R from which the container C is to be transferred by sliding or skidding. A pair of endless chains 30, Fig. 11, are mounted on opposite sides of the electric motor M and reduction gear 53 and are driven in unison by the common crossshaft 54 through double-reduction spur gear 56, 57, 60, 67, and chain drive 69 leading to the driving-sprocket 39 through the shaft 34. The chains extend from the front of the trailer to the outer end of the pivoted bridges, the shaft 40 in each case forming the pivot between the trailer and the bridge and the shaft 34 the pivot round which the hooking-means swivel. By clamping an idle sprocket 102 against rotation by means of hand-operated screwmechanism 100, the bridge may be maintained in any selected angular position against the action of gravity. Each chain carries a pair of perforated plates 82, Fig. 14, into which is fitted a block 84, Fig. 15, adapted to be fixed in position by the member 86, Fig. 16. The block 84 carries a pivoted rod 80 connected at its other end to the movable container. The outer end of the bridge member carries a member 44 adapted to be engaged with turnout' members 45 mounted on vertical pivots on the railway truck. To couple the bridge to the truck, a rod 48 is turned so that its cranked ends lie in a horizontal position so that they pass through the elongated slots 47 when the members 45 are turned to engage the bearing members 46. Release of the rod allows the cranked ends to fall and retain the members 45 in the engaged position. The trailer, bridges, and truck all carry guideways of the same gauge adapted to receive rails fixed to the base of the container. In the initial stage of the transfer the truck, bridges and trailer are in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the bridges sloping downward, at an intermediate stage with the fore end of the container half-way across the bridge their upper surfaces form a straight line sloping upwards from right to left while in the final position with the load on the trailer all three surfaces are horizontal and at the same level. Specifications 460,826, 471,327, and 474,362 are referred to.