Dolly, and transportation using same

• US 20070170676A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freight Operators Commercial Access Link (Focal) Limited
• Original Assignee: Freight Operators Commercial Access Link (Focal) Limited
• Inventors: Hilditch, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US10/598,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20070170676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/79.110
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 47/00 Loading or unloading devices combined with vehicles, e.g. loading platforms, doors convertible into loading and unloading rampscombined with vehicles in general B60P
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2207/00 Joining hand-propelled vehicles or sledges together
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/33 Wheels provided with protrusions, e.g. anti-slip protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2501/065 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/001 Steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/16 vertically stackable
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0079 Towing by connecting to another vehicle

Abstract

A dolly on which a materials handling package such as a crate or pallet can be carried has wheels (15, 16, 17, 18) each having a peripheral surface comprising a plurality of spaced projections and recesses therebetween, facilitating running of the dolly over a support surface of corrugated form such as may be found on a railway wagon for motor vehicle transportation. This facilitates the use of such railway wagons for transportation of vehicle components on the return journey after having delivered vehicles.

Claims

1. A dolly on which a load can be carried and having wheels enabling its movement over a support surface, wherein the wheels each have a peripheral surface which comprises a plurality of spaced projections and recesses therebetween.

2. A dolly according to claim 1 adapted for running on a corrugated support surface with the projections entering troughs between ridges of the support surface.

3. A dolly according to claim 2 adapted to run on a corrugated support surface in which the corrugations are of generally rectangular form, and wherein the projections on the wheel surface are of somewhat rectangular form, viewed parallel to the rotational axis of the wheel.

4. A dolly according to claim 3 wherein the width of each wheel is greater than the spacing between the ridges of the corrugated support surface.

5. A dolly according to claim 1 wherein the wheels are of a rubber material, polymeric material, or rubber and polymeric material.

6. A dolly according to claim 1, comprising a body part of plastics material, affording a load-carrying surface.

7. A dolly according to claim 6 wherein the wheels are partially accommodated in recesses provided in the body part, so that a portion only of the periphery of each wheel extends outwardly beneath the body part.

8. A dolly according to claim 1 wherein the wheels are rigidly supported in respect of upwards and downwards movement relative to the body part.

9. A dolly according to claim 6 wherein the wheels are carried by a chassis assembly to which the body part is secured.

10. A dolly according to claim 1 comprising two wheels which are pivotable about respective castor axes and two wheels which are not pivotable in such manner.

11. A dolly according to claim 1 comprising coupling means enabling a number of dollies to be connected together and handled as a train of dollies.

12. A dolly according to claim 1 further comprising means for accommodating an identification device such as a radio transponder.

13. A method of transporting goods, comprising loading the goods on at least one dolly according to claim 1, and carrying the dolly on a vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a railway wagon for motor vehicle transportation.

15. A method according to claim 14 comprising coupling a plurality of dollies together to form a train thereof, and loading the train of dollies onto at least one of the wagons.

16. A method according to claim 15 comprising securing the coupled dollies on the or each wagon by engaging end ones of the coupled dollies thereon by retaining devices.

19. A dolly according to claim 8 wherein the wheels are carried by a chassis assembly to which the body part is secured.

17-18. -18. (canceled)