US2649217A - Loading apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1953 E. J. MERTES LOADING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1949 Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES rATENT" oFF cE Edward J. Mertes, Chicago, 111. assignor to Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa a. corporation of Pennsylvania,

Application November 15, 1949, Serial N 0. 127,415 I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading material with a conveyor table, and more particularly refers to an apparains and method for loading relatively heavy objects into closed-top trucks and the like.

The loading for shipment of heavy objects such as steel products, machines and the like requires mechanical means. Most warehouses and shops where such material is handled are provided with overhead cranes or make use of mobile equipment such as industrial tractors equipped with lifting or hoisting means. Although all of these devices are. useful, none of them are entirely satisfactory for loading material into closed-top vehicles such as motor trucks or railroad box cars. The interiors of such vehicles are inaccessible to overhead hoists and only partially accessible at best to lift trucks, boom trucks or the like. Conveyor tables are? quite useful in loading material into closed-top'vehicles as these tables may be introduced far enough into the vehicle body to deliver the objects to be loaded at the closed end and then gradually withdrawn as'the vehicle body is filled up. However, conveyor tables capable of accommodating heavy objects are themselves heavy in construction and not easy to maneuver and position within a vehicle body. Prior to my invention these have generally been positioned manually or by a combination of mechanical and manual'means, such as an overhead crane and workers onthe floor. To the best of my knowledge no entirely mechanical means for positionin'g these tables or methodof loading vehicles with them was available.

" It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which adapts an industrial tractor for the transporting and'positioning of conveyor tables, particularly positioning within covered vehicles, withoutinanual assistance, so that the loading thereof is facilitated.

My invention makes use of an industrial tractor of the type commonly used in warehouses and the like for handling and transporting materials. I employ a tractor equipped with a forwardly projecting boom and a hoist cable running over this boom and wound on a winch, which is generally power driven. Tractors of this type,veither gasoline or electrically driven, are Well known. I provide such a tractor at its front end with a mechanical engaging and lifting device which, in conjunction with the hoist, may be used to ick ups conveyor table, move it over to a truck or-othervehicle to be loaded, and position the conveyor table for loading material into the truck.

be-gdescribed- 2 A present preferred embodimentv of, my invention will now be described with referencetoFigures l, 2, 3-and 4 of the accompanying drawing, inwhich: I I I; I

-Figure l is aside elevational view of an embodiment of my invention illustratin operational relationships thereof in association with a conveyor table and-a vehicle to be loaded. I

Figure 2 is a diagrammatical view of a portion of, my apparatus illustrating certain operating parts. I

FigureS is a side elevational view of aportion of a conveyor table illustrating certain constructional features. I I s Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view in cross section of a portion of my apparatus through the plane IV--I V of Figure 2.

, In these figures, is illustrated an industrial tractor of conventional type, generally denominated i. This tractor is provided with a boom 2, which projects forwardly and may be raised or lowered by appropriate operating means 3. This boom carries a hoist cable 4 which terminates at 1ts front end in a hook arrangement 5, and at its other endin; a power driven winch which is not illustrated; A conveyor table 6 is illustrated positioned in the open endof aclosed-top truck body 7. The conveyor table 6 consists essentially of a pair ofiside rails 8 supporting a plurality of rollers?) over which the objects to be loaded travel. This tableis provided with rollers S-Aon the bottom atone end, and legs ID at the other. I I I I I The tractor l is provided with a forwardly pro ecting arm H- pivoted on a bracket l2 attached to the front of the tractor frame This arm. carries an arcuatesection or spur-I 3 the end of which: is attached by a spring I4 to the tractor frame. Theupperend of arm H is formed into a hook I5 ,having'a relatively widenotch I6, and an upright stop i l. The arcuate spur i3 is provided with a slotiii which, when the arm II is in an upright position, is engaged by a dog l9 plvoted on. cross member 2 about pivot 25 and raised by a rqdwoperatedby a lever arm 2|. This slot {8 and dog I9 form a detent which holds the arm H inianlupright-position. A pair of guide plates 22 are; fastened to the frameof the tractorl in suchposition asto engage the end oft-he conveyortable 6 when it is elevated, as will For certain purposes to be described, it is convenient to use a conveyor tablet provided with a ledgelor lip 23 ,at the end inserted within the Ysh s i9 51?? eaded. a i Sha m'Fisur 3 This ledge is a short platform fixed at a level somewhat below that of the top of the side rails 8 of the conveyor table.

The operation of my apparatus will now be described, also with reference to the accompanying figures. The conveyor table '6, when not in use,

.is normally stored with its legs Ill resting on the floor and its other end supported so that its bed is more or less horizontal. When it is desired to use this conveyor, the operator of the tractor I brings it around into the position relative to the conveyor table shown in Figure l of the drawing. The tractor is then moved forward slowly, pushing the rounded nose of the projecting hook I5 under the rear cross member of the conveyor frame. As the forward motion of the tractor continues, the rear cross member of the conveyor finally strikes the projection I1 and then pushes back the pivoted member I I. This movement of the pivoted arm II raises the rear of the conveyor clear of the floor, and when the arm I I reaches an upright position the dog I9, which is pivoted on the cross member 24 and rests on the arcuate projection I3, drops into the slot I8, locking the arm II against any further motion. In its locked position the notch I 6 of the hook supports the rear cross member of the conveyor table, and the upper face of this rear cross member engages the forwardly projecting guide plates 22. The conveyor is thus securely held and prevented from tipping.

When the rear of the conveyor table is thus secured, the tractor operator attaches the hook 5 to the conveyor table at a point as shown by the broken lines of Figure 1, some distance beyond the endoi' the boom. It is convenient to have a lug provided on the conveyor table for this purpose. The operator then starts the tractor winch and raises the front endof the conveyor table from its support. The horizontal component of tension in the cable 4 holds the rear cross member of the conveyor table in the notch I6, against the stop I1, and the conveyor table sosupported can be transportedby the tractor to any desired location. When the table is properly aligned with the opening in the truck or car to be loaded, it is pushed into the vehicle the desired amount by the tractor, its front end lowered into position by means of the cable 4 and associated winch, and the table is then completely disengaged from the tractor. This is accomplished: by the operator's raising of the lever 2| which releases the dog I 9 from the slot I8, and. permits the pivoted member II- to drop forward. The tractormay then be backed away from the conveyor table.

The tension spring I! counterbalancesthe weight of the forwardly projecting arm II, the hook I5 and its associated spur I3, and allows the hook, when disengaged, to fall to the position shown in Figure 1. This spring is adjusted so that the nose of the hook l5 normally clears the rear cross member of the conveyor table '6 when the legs I-fl' of the latter are resting on the ground. As shown, the hook I 5 has a roundednose portion which, together with the spring I4, compensates for slightmisalignments of the hook I 5 and the conveyor table cross member. If the hook I5 does not clear the rear cross member of the conveyor table as the tractor is brought up into position, its rounded nose is pushed down by the conveyor table rear cross member, the spring 14 stretching sumci'ently to permit such displacement. Further forward motion of the tractor I then-brings the hook into proper position. The

spring I4 also permits disengagement of the hook I5 from the conveyor table when some misalignment is present, as, when the tractor is backed off, it permits the hook to be pulled down until it releases the conveyor table.

The above-described apparatus may be used to load heavy objects by a novel process. In this process the conveyor table is placed into position in the vehicle to be loaded. The objects to be loaded are then placed on the end of the conveyor table outside the truck. Conveyor tables used for loading vehicles are generally constructed with a slope insuflicient to permit the objects to be loaded to travel by gravity into the vehicle. This construction is preferred so that relatively heavy objects to be loaded, which must be placed on the conveyor table by a crane or other means, will remain stationary while the sling or other lifting tackle is removed. The conventional practice then is to push these objects along the conveyor table into the vehicle, generally by manual means. In the process of my invention, after the object is placed upon the outside end of the conveyor table, an industrial tractor equipped as previously described, or other means, is caused to engage the conveyor table and lift it clear of the floor. The entire conveyor table with its load. is then propelled forward into the truck body a short distance and suddenly stopped. The inertia of the object on the conveyor table causes it to continue forward along the conveyor table and into the vehicle. The conveyor table is then brought out again to its original position and a second object to be loaded is placed upon it, and the process is repeated.

Where it is desired to load heavy objects into the remote end of a vehicle, the previously described process may be somewhat modified. This modified process makes use of a conveyor table provided with a ledge at its inner end, as shown in Figure 3. Objects are loaded upon the outer end of such a conveyor table and caused to travel along the conveyor into the vehicle as described in the preceding paragraph. The conveyor table is manipulated to cause the objects to come to rest on the inner end of the conveyor. The conveyor table is then withdrawn fromunder the object until its back end rests upon the ledge 23'. An object inthis position can be pushed. by the conveyor table into the remote end of the truck a distance equal to the full length of the conveyor table.

As I have mentioned, the apparatus of my invention previously described is well suited for these processes of loading, but my processes may also be accomplished with an overhead crane or similar device.

Although I' have described and illustrated the present preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is. not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of my claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for loading material comprising in combination a conveyor table provided with supporting means at one end thereof, a tractor provided with an elevated forwardly projecting boom, a hoist cable adapted to operate over this boom andtermin'ating in first means for engaging the conveyor table at a point intermediate its ends, a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm provided at its upper end with second means for engaging the conveyor table at its supported end and pivoted at its lower end to the front of the tractor for movement in a vertical plane whereby the conveyor table is lifted, and means for yieldably positioning the forwardly projecting arm on the tractor adapted to bring about self-adjusting engagement of the second means for engaging the conveyor table with the conveyor table when the tractor and conveyor table are brought together.

2. Apparatus for loading material comprising in combination a conveyor table provided with supporting means at one end thereof, a tractor provided with an elevated forwardly projecting boom, a hoist cable adapted to operate over this boom and terminating in first means for engaging the conveyor table at a point intermediate its ends, a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm provided at its upper end with second means for engaging the conveyor table at its supported end and pivoted at its lower end to the front of the tractor for movement in a vertical plane whereby the conveyor table is lifted, means for yieldably positioning the forwardly projecting arm on the tractor adapted to bring about self-adjusting engagement of the second means for engaging the conveyor table with the conveyor table when the tractor and conveyor table are brought together, detent means for holding the forwardly projecting arm in a position whereby the conveyor table is lifted clear of the ground, and guide means extending horizontally from the front of the tractor positioned to engage and steady the top of the lifted conveyor table.

3. Apparatus for loading material comprising in combination a conveyor table provided with supporting means at one end thereof, a tractor provided with an elevated forwardly projecting boom, a hoist cable adapted to operate over this boom and terminating in first means for engaging the conveyor table at a point intermediate its ends, a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm provided at its upper end with second means for engaging the conveyor table at its supported end and pivoted at its lower end to the front of the tractor for movement in a vertical plane whereby the conveyor table is lifted, means for yieldably positioning the forwardly projecting arm on the tractor adapted to bring about selfadjusting engagement of the second means for engaging the conveyor table with the conveyor table when the tractor and conveyor table are brought together, an arcuate spur rearwardly attached to the upper end of the forwardly projecting arm and having a transverse slot therein, a dog movably attached to the tractor cooperating with the slot to hold the forwardly projecting arm in a fixed position, and means for releasing the dog.

4. Apparatus for loading material comprising in combination a conveyor table provided with supporting means at one end thereof, a tractor provided with an elevated forwardly projecting boom, a hoist cable adapted to operate over this boom and terminating in a hook, a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm pivoted at its lower end to the front of the tractor for movement in a vertical plane whereby the conveyor table is lifted and provided at its upper end with a hook having a rounded nose adapted to slide under the supported end of the conveyor table, a notch behind the nose adapted to hold the conveyor table end in engagement therewith, an upright stop behind. the notch, and a rearwardly projecting arcuate spur, and a spring member connecting the end of the arcuate spur and the tractor positioning the forwardly projecting arm for self-adjusting engagement with the conveyor table and restraining yieldably the further movement of such arm.

EDWARD J. IVIERTES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,322 Carpenter Dec. 28, 1897 1,751,717 Romine Mar. 25, 1930 1,818,289 White Aug. 11, 1931 2,061,495 Woodruff Nov. 17, 1936 2,186,463 Maine Jan. 9, 1940 2,379,094 Maxon June 26, 1945 2,432,182 Turner Dec. 9, 1947 2,445,614 Flynn et a1. July 20, 1948 2,536,151 Backofen et al Jan. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 174,537 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1922

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