GB979915A - Apparatus for transferring containers to and from vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

979,915. Transferring containers to and from vehicles. DEMPSTER BROS. Inc. April 17, 1963 [May 10, 1962; Feb. 1, 1963], No. 15017/63. Heading B8E. Containers are transferred to and from road and rail vehicles by means of a transfer vehicle provided with a power-operated transfer mechanism. A transfer vehicle 2 has tracks 90 mounted on a chassis 6, which can be levelled and adjusted in height by jack assemblies 96, Fig. 1, and which guide containers 106 by engagement therewith of runners 108. The containers are moved by carriage assemblies 14 driven transversely of the vehicle between support channels 10 by an hydraulic motor driving shafts mounting pinions 68, Fig. 7, which engage racks 70 on members 16 of the carriages 14 which also carry plates 26 mounting blocks 30, which may be of phenolic resin, and which slide between rails 22, 24 of the members 10. Each carriage assembly has bail assemblies 36, 38 comprising pivotally mounted arms 44, Fig. 5, joined at the end by a bar 46 which can engage hook bars 110, Fig. 9, on the containers 106. The arms 44 are normally urged upwards by leaf springs 50 to engage one of the opposed hook surfaces 114 although this may be prevented, when movement is in one direction, by a shuttle 116. In use the carriages 14 which are usually coupled to move in unison are extended from one side of the vehicle 2 to engage a container on the road or rail vehicle and by a series of steps the container is transferred to the vehicle 2. From the vehicle 2 it can be transferred directly to another vehicle positioned on the other side or the vehicle 2 can be driven to a suitable transfer point.