GB640885A - Improvements in or relating to trucks and like load-carrying vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

640,885. Vehicle fittings for loading and unloading. LAYTON, D. A. Sept. 29, 1948, No. 25378. [Class 78 (iv)] A vehicle of the kind provided with a loading platform adapted to be moved from a position at or near ground level to a position in which it forms a prolongation of the floor of the vehicle body, the platform being pivotally carried on the outer ends of a pair of arms pivotally attached to the vehicle beneath its body and which are displaced angularly under the control of mechanical or hydraulic means to raise and lower the platform, link means being provided to maintain the platform horizontal during such movement, is characterized in that the arms are arranged both for angular and longitudinal movement in relation to the floor of the vehicle body for raising and lowering the platform, and are guided by members rigidly attached to the vehicle adjacent the arms. As shown in Figs. 1, 3,4, the platform 3 is pivotally mounted at 15 on a pair of channel section arms 11 provided with rollers 14, 14a engaging in slots 10 in a pair of brackets 8 secured to the underside of the floor 1 of the vehicle. The platform is raised and lowered by a ram and cylinder unit (not shown) connected to a bar 21 attached by a stirrup 20 to a girder 13 secured to the arms 11. When the platform is lowered from the position shown in Fig. 1, the arms 11 move in a horizontal direction for a short distance until the rollers 14a enter the portion .10a of the slots 10, the arms then pivoting about the shafts of the rollers 14 and at the same time moving rearwardly. The platform is maintained horizontal during such movement by rods 17 connected at 19 to platform-supporting members 16 and to lugs 18 on the girder 13. A hinged tailboard 5 on the platform may be used as a ramp. An expanding gate may be provided to divide the platform from the vehicle body, particularly when cattle are being loaded. in a modification, Fig. 5, the ram unit is positioned between the girder 13 and a transverse member 24 fixed to the vehicle chassis or body at or near its rear end, the ram cylinder 25 being bolted to the girder 13 and the piston-rod 26 pivotally connected to the member 24 at 27.