Cargo roller system for cargo handling

• US 20040247422A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Engineered Support Systems Incorporated (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Support Systems Incorporated (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Kozich, Anothony L., Neumann, Kenneth M.
• Application Number:
  US10/819,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/529
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/129 Transporter frames for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/542 Ramps forming part of the container ramps per se B65G69/28; for ambulances A61G3/061; for vehicles in general B60P1/43
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/546 Devices for loading or unloading and forming part of the container, e.g. rollers, conveyors loading or unloading vehicles B65G67/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0033 Lifting means forming part of the container B65D90/0006, B65D90/0026 take precedence; loading or unloading container on or from a truck B60P1/6418; lifting the container using a crane B66C1/663

Abstract

A roller unit that can be used to retrofit a cargo carrying surface makes loading and unloading of the cargo carrying surface easier by transforming the cargo carrying surface to include a conveyor system. The roller unit includes at least two trays in which are mounted rollers, the trays being connected by a crosspiece. The roller unit is designed to be installed on cargo carrying surfaces such as portable platforms, including Flatracks or CROPs, and in cargo containers of any type.

Claims

1. A roller unit comprising:

at least two trays for mounting rollers;

at least one roller for supporting cargo mounted in each of said at least two trays, said rollers designed to allow translation of the cargo supported thereby via a rolling motion; and

at least one crosspiece that rigidly connects said at least two trays;

wherein said roller unit is designed to retrofit a cargo carrying surface with a conveyor system.

2. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller is cylindrical.

3. A roller unit of claim 2, wherein the composition of said at least one cylindrical roller comprises aluminum.

4. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller is spherical.

6. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein said roller unit is designed to be reversibly attached to said cargo carrying surface.

7. A roller unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one pallet stop;

wherein said pallet stop may be reversibly positioned into and out of a first position, and wherein when said pallet stop is in said first position, said pallet stop is configured to obstruct movement of cargo loaded on said roller unit.

8. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein said at least one crosspiece connects said at least two trays so as to hold said at least two trays in a generally parallel configuration.

9. A roller unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one guide rail for providing at least one of horizontal and vertical restraint to the motion of a pallet loaded onto said roller unit.

11. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein the at least two trays are positioned so as to allow the tines of a fork truck access to a space between the cargo and the cargo carrying surface on which the roller unit is mounted.

12. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein the cargo carrying surface is the floor of an ISO cargo container.

13. A roller unit of claim 12, wherein said ISO cargo container is rated for carrying a maximum load prior to being retrofitted with a roller unit;

and wherein the combination of said roller unit attached to said ISO cargo container is generally capable of carrying said maximum load without damage to any of said roller unit, said ISO cargo container, and said combination of said roller unit attached to said ISO cargo container.

14. A roller unit of claim 1, wherein the cargo surface is a portable platform, including a Flatrack and a CROP.

15. A roller unit of claim 14, wherein said portable platform is rated for carrying a maximum load prior to being retrofitted with a roller unit;

and wherein the combination of said roller unit attached to said portable platform is generally capable of carrying said maximum load without damage to any of said roller unit, said portable platform, and said combination of said roller unit attached to said portable platform.

5. A roller unit of claim 5, wherein said at least one spherical roller is mounted to allow rotation about any axis generally parallel to the cargo carrying surface on which the roller unit is mounted.

10. A roller unit of claim 10, wherein said guide rail is adjustable in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction compared with a plane tangent to said at least one roller in each of said at least two trays.

16. A device for moving cargo, comprising

a generally planar cargo carrying surface;

and

a roller unit attached adjacent to said cargo carrying surface comprising;

at least two trays for mounting rollers;

at least one roller for supporting cargo mounted in each of said at least two trays, said rollers designed to allow translation of the cargo supported thereby via a rolling motion; and

at least one crosspiece that rigidly connects said at least two trays;

wherein said roller unit is designed to retrofit a cargo carrying surface with a conveyor system.

17. A device of claim 16, wherein said cargo carrying surface is one of the floor of an ISO cargo container and the top surface of a portable platform, including a Flatrack and a CROP.

18. A device of claim 16, wherein said at least one roller is cylindrically shaped and has a composition that comprises aluminum.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of attaching is performed to allow said roller unit to be reversibly detached and reattached to said cargo carrying surface.

19. A method of loading cargo onto a generally flat cargo carrying surface comprising:

attaching a roller unit adjacent to a generally flat cargo carrying surface, said roller unit comprising;

at least two trays for mounting rollers;

at least one roller for supporting cargo mounted in each of said at least two trays, said rollers designed to allow translation of the cargo supported thereby via a rolling motion; and

at least one crosspiece that rigidly connects said at least two trays;

wherein said roller unit is designed to retrofit a cargo carrying surface with a conveyor system; and

loading cargo onto said roller unit attached to said generally flat cargo carrying surface.