WO1983003390A1

WO1983003390A1 - A movable load carrier

Info

Publication number: WO1983003390A1
Application number: PCT/NO1983/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Erik Duun; Roald Andreas Duun; Even Duun; Ragnar Petlund
Original assignee: John Erik Duun; Roald Andreas Duun
Priority date: 1982-03-26
Filing date: 1983-03-25
Publication date: 1983-10-13
Also published as: DK536483D0; SE8306531L; GB2128579A; FI73929C; GB2128579B; NO821020L; DK536483A; DE3338538T1; SE8306531D0; FI834295A0; FI73929B; GB8330691D0; NO151813B; DE3338538C2; FI834295A; NO151813C; SE446390B

Abstract

A movable load carrier having a generally U-shaped frame and the parallel arms of said frame (1) being provided with wheels (2) at their free ends. Said load carrier is intended to be moved with its open frame portion toward the load, e.g. a container, by the aid of a vehicle to enclose said load with a clearance between the frame and the sides of the load. By vertical pivot movement in one direction of said frame it is brought into a position where supporting pins (7) provided in the longitudinal direction of said load carrier engage with a front end portion of said load. By pivoting said frame in the opposite direction it is brought into a position for engagement with the rear end portion of the load by the aid of a pair of chains, wire or the like (10), extending from a turret (9) generally located above wheels (2), and a hook (23) secured at the free end of said chain. The connection between said chain or wire with turret (9) is achieved by an adjustable connection (11). The supporting pins (7) are provided on a cross beam (5) which via slide bearings (6) is in a slidable engagement with the parallel arms of frame (1). Cross beam (5) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of said load carrier between two positions along said parallel arms and may be locked in said positions by the aid of locking blocks (14; 13) and a locking hood (12), flexibly connected with the cross beam. The load carrier is, thus, adaptable to several load lengths or container dimensions.

Description

A MOVABLE LOAD CARRIER

The present invention relates to a movable load carrier, e. g. for loads like containers and container platformscomp¬ rising a generally U-shaped frame the parallel arms respec¬ tively of which are provided with wheels with a shaft across said arm, the frame being able to pivot about said shaft in a vertical plane, means associated with said frame for flexible connection with the lifting device of a vehicle, e. g. a fork truck, and a first and a second set of connecting means for connecting said load carrier with said load, the load carrier being intended to be moved by said vehicle with its open frame portion facing said load and enclosing said load on three sides with a clearance between said frame and the sides of said load, said first set of connecting means being at first connected with a front end portion of said load, whereupon said second set of connecting means is connected with the rear end portion of said load.

A movable load carrier of the kind mentioned above is inter alia known from NO-PS No. 138 991. According to said patent specification each of said connecting means consists of a sliding bolt supported slidably in the direction of the container side on the frame for contacting one end of said sliding bolt with an arbitrary flat supporting surface on said container, a chain secured on the opposite end of said sliding bolt, and a locking means secured on the opposite end of said chain for lockable engagement with a recess in the lower corner portion of said container, the length of the chain being adapted for the sliding bolt to tension said chain when lifted and, thus, urged against said contai¬ ner by said chain. Said locking means may consist of a bayonet catch. According to Norwegian Standard it is, how¬ ever, not desirable to have points of attack on the container apart from the appropriate engagement means at the container corners. It is, furthermore, an essential advantage that the container can be locked in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier which the known device does not allow. The object of the present invention is, thus, to provide a movable load carrier that is especially suited for quay structures and other loading areas where the available ve¬ hicles have low lifting capacity and no downward thrust.

According to the present invention the movable load carrier mentioned above is characterized in that said second set of connecting means have their upper end extending from a tur¬ ret structure generally located above said wheels, a member, e.g. a hook, being provided at the lower end of said connect¬ ing means and intended for engagement with said load, and that said frame arms have a length substantially smaller than the total length of the load.

Further features of the invention will appear from the fol¬ lowing claims and from the following description with re¬ ference to the attached drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a side elevation and a plan view respec¬ tively of a first embodiment of the load carrier according to the invention.

Figures 3 and 4 show a side elevation and a plan view respec¬ tively of a second embodiment of the load carrier according to the invention.

Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate how the load carrier according to the invention is connected with a container.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate in a side elevation and a plan view respectively a load carrier according to Figures 1 and 2 with a mounted container of one length and a container of another length.

Figures 11, 12, and 13 show more detaled portions XI, XII, and XIII of Figure 2.

Figure 14 shows the load carrier according to the invention being moved by a fork truck to enclose a container. . -PAIP Even though the load carrier according to the present inven¬ tion is especially described below in connection with a container load, it will be understood that the load carrier is gually suited for container platforms as well as for transporting bundled timber, long beam and tube structures as well as other heavy structures that are difficult to mo¬ ve because of their weight and dimensions, e.g. on a quay structure where said load has been unloaded from a ship and where there are no lifting tools, e.g. fork trucks able to service more than e.g. 20% of the load capacities necessary to move the load.

The mode of operation of the load carrier requires a shortes possible length of structure as the main weight of the load, i.e. 80 -90%, is to be transfered to the supporting wheels 2 of the load carrier. The load carrier comprises a main frame 1,generally U-shaped. Said wheels 2 are provided at the open end portion of said frame at each arm. Above the wheels 2 a turret 9 is mounted and is via an adjustable mounting support 11 connected with connecting means 10 in the shape of a chain or a wire having an engaging hook 23 provided at its lower end. The adjustable mounting support 11, e.g. in the shape of a chain or wire lock, may possibly be replaced by the solution indicated in Figures 3 and 4, wherein a leading pulley 18 is provided for the chain on top of said turret as well as a hydraulic jack for tension- ing said chain, resulting in a lifting movement of the con¬ tainer when the lifting force is transfered to the top of the load carrier turret.

Between the parallel boundaries of frame 1 a cross beam 5 has been located, the ends of which are slidably connected with said parallel boundaries by slide bearings 6. At the end portions of cross beams 5 guide sockets 8 are mounted on which elongated supporting pins 7 are secured and intend¬ ed for engagement with corresponding securing recesses in the lower front portion of the container. Guide sockets 8 cause the supporting pins to be inserted into said recesses at a correct level. In order to ensure that there is no ^*, for the supporting pins to escape from said recesses, the ends of said supporting pins may comprise an upright portion 25, e.g. a bead or a portion of said pin extended upward. Said bead may possibly be of a replaceable kind. Alternative¬ ly, said supporting pin may be replaceable. When said sup¬ porting pin is inserted in the oval securing recess in the container it will not abut directly angainst the rims of said securing recess. This will not be the case before the instant when supporting pin 7 is lifted when the front port¬ ion of the load carrier is lifted. The upright portion will, thus, be located behind and on the upper side of securing recess and. prevent the supporting pin from slipping out when the container has no full contact with the ground.

As appears from Figures 1-4 and Figures 9 and 10, the pre¬ sent load carrier, as distinct from the known solution, is suited for several container sizes. In Figures 1-4, thus, the broken lines show said load carrier used for a container size e.g. 10', whereas the full lines show the load carrier used for a container size 20' or 23'. To ensure that the cross beam 5 with mounted supporting pins 7 is secured in the two shown positions a front pair 14 and a rear pair 13 of locking blocks respectively are provided, and on each of the slide bearings 6 a pivotally mounted locking hook 12 is provided intended for engagement with said locking blocks, as shown in the drawings. A frame rod 4 is firmly attached to the center point of the cross beam 5 which, thus, forms a pull rod for the load carrier. As indicated in Figures 1 and 2 said frame rod 4 may be slidably connected with the frame 1 by guides 25 and 26 secured to the frame. As will appear from Figure 2, guide 25 is provided on a cross piece I' of the U-shaped frame. When cross beam 5 is displaced as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2, the connecting link 3 located at the other end of frame rod 4 will be closer to frame 1.

It is, however, apparently possible within the scope of the present invention to make frame rod 4 telescopic by letting connection link 3 form a direct extension of a pipe inside frame rod 4. Said two telescopic members may be locked to¬ gether by a locking bolt 17. In the present embodiment, however, locking bolt 17 only serves to lock connecting link 3.

On the front portion of the frame a supporting foot 15 is provided which can advantageously be used when said load carrier with an attached load, e.g. in the shape of a con¬ tainer, is disengaged from the lifting unit, as shown in Figure 8.

As appears from Figure 14, a fork truck 20 is used for mani¬ pulating the load carrier, said truck having forks 22 pro¬ vided in a conventional manner on its lifting member. A fixing device 4 (Figure 13) forms the connection between the lifting tool and said connecting link 3. Said fixing device is selectively adaptable to the dimensions of the lifting tool and may be secured to said tool in a simple manner. When the load carrier is connected with the fork truck, as shown in Figure 14, it is moved toward container 21 to enclose the container as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

As shown, inter alia, in Figure 14, a chain case 16 is pro¬ vided in connection with turret 9.

Reference is now especially made to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8. In general the load carrier will have an initial position as shown in Figure 1 or 8, the front portion of the load carrier being supported by foot 15. The fork truck is connected and the longitudinal dimension of the load carrier is adjusted for one of the desired container sizes as regards the posi¬ tion of cross bar 5 and the length of frame rod 4. The supporting foot 15 is locked in its upper position. The load carrier is then maneuvered inward along the sides of con¬ tainer 21 with guide sockets 8 along the ground, as appears from Figure 5. When cross bar 5 of the load carrier abuts the container wall the lifting function of the fork truck &- REA

OMPI is activated and the container is lifted by supporting pins 7 engaged with its front end. The container is placed in a tilted position, as shown in Figure 6, whereupon the en¬ gaging hook 23 of chain 10 is inserted in the lower rear securing recess of the container. It is ensured that the chain length is correctly adapted by the aid of the adjust¬ able mounting support 11 or 18 and 19 respectively, see Fi¬ gure 7, and the load carrier is now lowered into a transport position by force of gravity. The main portion of the total load is, thus, transfered to the supporting wheels 2 of the load carrier. To remove the load the described sequence is reversed. If the embodiment with an adjustable mounting sup¬ port, shown in Figures 3 and 4, is chosen, i.e. a leading pulley 18 for chain 10 and a hydraulic jack 19 for tension- ing said chain, the correct length of the chain should be secured e.g. adjustably by a catching hook on the piston rod. With a supply from the oil feed to the lifting cylinder of the truck it will then be possible to feed pressure oil in parallel to said two jacks 19 via a stop valve and a hydraulic connection (not shown) , and possibly in parallel with the lifting cylinders of the truck as well. When the truck now seeks to lift the load carrier, the same oil pres¬ sure is transfered to the cylinders of the hydraulic jacks 19 on the load carrier. When the desired lifting level has been achieved, the stop valve for the two load carrier cy¬ linders is closed, and the load carrier is lowered to a de¬ sired moving position. For removing a load the stop valve is opened and the load is lowered. In order to have the jacks of the load carrier completely extended and ready for the next loading operation, the load carrier is reversed with its catching hooks still connected with the container and the hydraulics of the truck in a lowering position, until the hydraulic cylinders 19 have reached their extended end positions.

The load carrier is excellent for use in loading/unloading areas having a low capacity and it may also be modified for heavier loads. The load carrier may be produced as an equipment to be assembled on location by bolting the parts together.

The solution comprising a hydraulic jack in connection with chain 10 is especially suited for small fork trucks and large loads. The connecting link 3 i cooperation with the extendable frame rod 4 is especially intended to ensure an

10 improved lifting position for small fork trucks. If said connection link is extendable it is locked as mentioned in an extended and a contracted position resp. by locking bolts 17. The connection between fixing device 24 and connecting link 3 may be achieved by a ball head bearing known per se. ic As indicated in claim 14, said ball head bearing is prefer¬ ably situated beneath the forks of the fork truck, so that said forks are not hampered by them when the connection link of the load carrier is lifted, and neither in transport condition as illustrated in Figure 8.

20

It will be appreciated that the present load carrier is not limited to utilization in connection with a fork truck. Other vehicles comprising a loading tool, e.g. a tractor, a transfer truck or the like may be used as well. 5

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Claims

Claimsi

1. A movable load carrier, e.g. for a load (21) as con¬ tainers and container platforms, comprising a generally U- shaped frame (1) , the parallel arms of which respective¬ ly are provided with wheels (2) with a shaft across said arm, the frame being pivotable about said shaft in a verti¬ cal plane, means (3) associated with said frame for a linked 0 connection to the lifting tool of a vehicle, e.g. a fork truck, and a first (7) and a second set (23) of connecting means for connecting said load carrier to the load, said load carrier being arranged so as to be moved by said ve¬ hicle with its open frame portion toward the load (21) and 5 to enclose the load on three sides with a clearance between said frame and the sides of the load, and wherein the first set of connecting means is first connected with a front end portion of the load, whereupon the second set of connecting means is connected with a rear en portion of the load, 0 c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second set (10,23) of connecting means has its upper end extending from a turret structure (9) generally positioned above said wheels (2) , a member (23), e.g. a hook intended for engagement with the load, being provided at the lower -end of said connecting 5 means, and that said arms of the frame have a length that is substantially less than the total length of the load.

2. A movable load carrier as stated in claim 1 and intend¬ ed for loads of varying length, c h a r a c t e r i z e d _Q i n that said first set of connecting means (7) is displace able in the longitudinal direction of the load carrier.

3. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said first set of 5 connecting means is provided on a cross bar (5) the ends of which by the aid of slide bearings form a slidable engage¬ ment with the parallel arms of the U-shaped frame.

4. A device as stated in claims 1, 2, or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said first set of con¬ necting means consists of supporting pins (7) provided in parallel with and between said arms of the frame (1) .

5. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second set (10,23) of connecting means comprises a chain, wire or the like (10) .

6. A movable load carrier as claimed in one or several of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r z e d i n that the second set (10, 23) of connecting means is adjustable in relation to the turret structure (9) .

7. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the length of the second connecting means is made adjustable by the aid of a hydraulic jack.

8. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rear end portion of the load is lifted above ground level by keeping the length of said second connecting means (10) constant, while the upper level of the turret structure. (9) is varied.

9. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 6 or 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said hydraulic jack (19) is directly connected with said second set of connecting means, e.g. a chain or a wire, via a leading pulley (18) pro¬ vided at the top of the turret structure.

10. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a mechanical chain or wire lock (11) is provided at the top of the turret structure (9).

11. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the means for connect¬ ing with the lifting tool comprise a frame rod (4) , one end

O of which comprises a connecting link (3) and the other end of which is rigidly connected with said cross bar (5) , the frame rod (4) being slidably connected with frame (1) by ₅ the aid of guides (25, 26) mounted on the frame.

12. A movable load carrier as claimed in claims 2, 3,or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said supporting pins (7) cooperate with guide sockets (8) causing said supporting 0 pins to be inserted into corresponding holes in the load at the correct level.

13. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 1 or 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said supporting pin (7) is provided with an upstanding portion (27) at its end.

14. A movable load carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cross beam (5) is slidable between two positions along the paral- _Q lei arms of the U-shaped frame, and that locking blocks (14; 13) are provided at the respective positions and intended ■ for engagement with a locking hook (12) flexibly attached to said slide bearings (6) .

5 15. A movable load carrier as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said turret structure (9) and said wheels (2) are arranged at the open rear end portion of the frame (1) of the load carrier.

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