Container handling system & method

• US 20020146306A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jay C. Morrell
• Original Assignee: Jay C. Morrell
• Inventors: Morrell, Jay C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/340
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6454 the load transporting element being shifted by means of an inclined ramp connected to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6463 fitted with articulated beams for longitudinal displacement of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/30 using transportable tipping apparatus

Abstract

A container handling system includes a vehicle adapted to carry a container, the vehicle being equipped with a hoist for lifting containers, and, a trailer towable by the vehicle so as to provide tandem transport of containers. The trailer is adapted to receive a container from the vehicle via the vehicle hoist, and is further adapted to selectively hoist a received container in furtherance of unloading the received container, or dump contents therefrom.

Claims

1. A container handling system comprising:

a. a vehicle adapted to carry a container, said vehicle being equipped with a hoist for lifting containers; and

,

b. a trailer towable by said vehicle so as to provide tandem transport of containers, said trailer adapted to receive a container from said vehicle via said vehicle hoist, and further adapted to selectively hoist a received container in furtherance of unloading the received container or dump contents therefrom.

2. The roll-off handling system of claim 1 wherein said trailer has a chassis having forward and rearward portions, said forward chassis portion being equipped with a hitch assembly for joining said trailer to said vehicle.

3. The roll-off handling system of claim 2 wherein said hitch assembly includes a forwardly extending draw bar having a free end pivotable about a pivot axis.

4. The roll-off handling system of claim 3 wherein said draw bar is pneumatically actuated for pivot motion about said pivot axis so as to selectively position said free end of said draw bar and thereby facilitate reversible coupling of said trailer to said vehicle.

5. The roll-off handling system of claim 4 wherein said hitch assembly further includes a pneumatic actuator interposed between said draw bar and a member of said forward chassis portion such that said forward chassis portion directs a pneumatic force developed by said pneumatic actuator to a portion of said draw bar for pivoting said draw bar.

6. The roll-off handling system of claim 2 wherein a container transferred from said vehicle to said trailer is received at said forward portion of said trailer.

7. The roll-off handling system of claim 6 wherein said trailer includes a cradle for receiving a container, said cradle having forward and rearward portions, said rearward portion being pivotably attached to said rearward chassis portion of said trailer.

8. The roll-off handling system of claim 7 wherein said cradle further includes guide members for cooperative engagement with the container so as to facilitate lateral positioning and stabilization of the container on said trailer.

9. The roll-off handling system of claim 8 wherein said cradle is equipped with a container retaining mechanism.

10. The roll-off handling system of claim 9 wherein a portion of said container retaining mechanism selectively engages a portion of the container during transference of the container from said vehicle to said trailer so as to longitudinally secure the roll-off with respect to said trailer.

11. The roll-off handling system of claim 10 wherein said container retaining mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft carrying at least one container engaging member, said rotatable shaft traversing said cradle.

12. The roll-off handling system of claim 11 wherein said rotatable shaft is adapted to be selectively secured against rotation.

13. The roll-off handling system of claim 12 wherein said container engaging member is a hook.

14. The roll-off handling system of claim 13 wherein said container retaining mechanism is located at said rearward portion of said cradle.

15. The roll-off handling system of claim 9 wherein said roll-off retaining mechanism has first and second configurations, said first configuration permitting retention of a container on said trailer in furtherance of content dumping.

16. The roll-off handling system of claim 15 wherein said second configuration permits unloading of a container from said trailer.

17. A container handling method associated with tandem container transport, the steps comprising:

a. providing a vehicle adapted to carry a container having means for transferring the container from said vehicle;

b. providing a trailer towable by said vehicle so as to permit tandem carriage of containers, said trailer adapted to carry and unload a container therefrom;

c. loading said vehicle with a container; and

,

d. transferring said container from said vehicle to said trailer via means for transferring the container from said vehicle.

18. In a tandem container transport system including a vehicle adapted to carry thereon and transfer therefrom a vehicle container, a trailer comprising:

(a) a frame having forward and rearward portions, said forward portion configured to be engagable by the vehicle for towing thereby;

(b) a cradle for reversibly retaining a trailer container thereon, said cradle being pivotably supported by said frame and having forward and rearward portions, said forward portion of said cradle being adapted to receive a container transferred from the vehicle in furtherance of tandem container transport; and

(c) a hoist interposed between said frame and said cradle for raising said forward portion of said cradle from said forward portion of said frame so as to angularly orient a container received on said cradle relative to said frame.