GB496549A - Improvements in or relating to road vehicles to facilitate loading and unloading - Google Patents

Abstract

496,549. Vehicle fittings for loading. BROCKHOUSE & CO., Ltd., J., and DEAR, A. T. C. May 26, 1937, No. 14576. [Class 78 (iv)] [Also in Group XXXII] In road vehicles fitted with movable floors which can be tilted to form a loading ramp and in some cases may slide rearwardly before being tilted, roller tracks are provided on the floors and a winch is arranged to draw a flexible member over an elevated pulley on the frame so that the floor can be moved, or the load moved over the floor. Fig. 1 shows a two - wheeled trailer adapted to load a motor boat, in which the floor tilts only. The floor 21 is pivoted at 20 and tilted by the cable 25 running to the hand-operated geared winch 27. Shock-absorbers 32 cushion the movement. The hook 26 is then attached to the load and the latter is drawn over the roller bed 22 on the tilted floor and lashed at 33, 34. Paying out the cable then moves the floor into the horizontal position under the weight of the load and allows screw locking- pins 31 to be manipulated to fix it in position. In the preferred construction two roller beds are used, one situated at each side of the floor, with an intervening clear space. Handoperated brake gear 18 is provided for the road wheels of the trailer, and the usual jacks 15 also are provided. Fig. 5 shows a fourwheeled trailer in which the floor 44 both slides and tilts. The rear end of the floor rests on two sets of side rollers 48 carried by pivoted brackets mounted on the frame of the truck, while the front end carries a pair of rollers 46 mounted on a centrallypivoted bar 62, thus giving a 3-point support for the floor in its horizontal position. The bar 62 can swing in a vertical plane within the limits allowed by the members 64, thus preventing distortion of the vehicle frame being transmitted to the load. Two handoperated winches are used, one 56 for hauling the load by the cable 43, and the other 54 for hauling the floor by the endless cable 53. Provision may be made for coupling the winches and actuating them simultaneously. Side rollers 60 guide and prevent rocking of the load. Brackets 57 hold the rollers 46 down during transport and locking-means as in Fig. 1, is applied to the floor near the rollers 48. A large roller 50 engages the ground when the floor is acting as a ramp.