ROLL OFF HOIST WITH HINGED END PORTION

• US 20100303594A1
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Richard T., Duell, Charles A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/479
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/16 actuated by fluid-operated mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/22 with cables, chains, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6463 fitted with articulated beams for longitudinal displacement of the container

Abstract

A container handling system and method for a wheeled transport vehicle is disclosed that is capable of loading and unloading containers, particularly in locations where the overhead height is limited. A hinged tail member at the rear end of the elongated body (a/k/a tilt frame member) is rotated to the ground allowing the containers to be loaded and unloaded without rotating the tilt frame to its maximum height. A cable reeving arrangement, such as a dual reeving arrangement, can be utilized to load and unload the container.

Claims

1. A system for loading and unloading a container from a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. a tilt frame member removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the tilt frame member has a length defined by a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front;

b. a carriage slidably attached to the tilt frame member that travels along the tilt frame member during loading of a container onto the transport vehicle;

c. a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end and a moving end, the fixed end being attached toward the rear of the tilt frame member and the moving end is attached to the carriage such that extending and retracting the central hydraulic cylinder moves the carriage from the rear of the tilt frame member to the front of the tilt frame member and necessarily causes the container attached to the engaging means to be loaded onto the tilt frame member;

d. means for releasably engaging a container, where the engaging means is connected to and moves with the carriage along the tilt frame member when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted; and

e. a tail member rotatably attached to the tilt frame member, said tail member being rotated by at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder; and

f. wherein said tail member can be rotated between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member, and a second position adjacent the ground.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably engaging a container is a cable hoist mechanism.

3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably engaging a container is a hook lift mechanism.

4. A method for loading and unloading a container from a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. providing a tilt frame member pivotably attached to a transport vehicle, where the tilt frame member has a front and rear, a carriage slidably attached to the tilt frame member, and a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder connected to the carriage and having a fixed end and a moving end;

b. providing a tail member pivotably attached to the rear of the tilt frame member and being actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder;

c. providing an engaging system on said carriage for connecting to a container;

d. actuating pivotal rotation of said tail member;

e. connecting said engaging system to a container; and

f. activating sliding of said carriage member along said tilt frame member to assist in pulling a container along said hinged tail member and onto said tilt frame member until the container is fully positioned on the elongated body.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said engaging system is a cable hoist system.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said engaging system is a hook lift system.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising raising the front of the tilt frame member during loading of a container onto said tilt frame member.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of raising the hinged tail member to assist in loading a container onto the tilt frame member.

9. A system for loading and unloading a container from a transport vehicle comprising:

a. a tilt frame member pivotally attached to a transport vehicle, the tilt frame member having a length defined by a front end located adjacent to the cab of the transport vehicle and a rear end located at a distance from the cab;

b. an engaging mechanism on tilt frame member for releasably engaging a container and for assisting in loading and unloading containers from the tilt frame member;

c. a first hydraulic system for moving said engaging mechanism along said tilt frame member;

d. a tail member hingedly attached adjacent said rear end of said tilt frame member; and

e. a second hydraulic system for hingedly rotating said tail member relative to said tilt frame member.

10. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said engaging mechanism is a moveable carriage.

11. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said first hydraulic system is a single cylinder reeving arrangement.

12. The system as described in claim 11 wherein said single cylinder reeving arrangement comprises a centrally located multi-stage hydraulic cylinder.

13. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said first hydraulic system is a dual cylinder reeving arrangement.

14. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said moveable carriage includes a push member.

15. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said moveable carriage includes a hook lift mechanism.

16. The system as described in claim 15 wherein said hook lift mechanism includes a telescopic jib mechanism.

17. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said moveable carriage includes a cable hoist mechanism.

18. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said moveable carriage includes both a cable, hoist mechanism and a hook lift mechanism.

19. The system as described in claim 18 wherein said hook lift mechanism includes a telescopic jib mechanism.

20. The system as described in claim 9 wherein said tilt frame member includes a third hydraulic system for raising said front end of said tilt frame member relative to the vehicle.

21. The system as described in claim 9 further comprising a protective plate member positioned on said elongated body.

22. The system as described in claim 9 further comprising a protective plate member positioned on said tail member.

23. A system for loading and unloading containers from a transport vehicle comprising:

an elongated tilt frame member rotatably attached to a transport vehicle;

a dual cylinder reeving arrangement positioned on the tilt frame member for loading and unloading containers onto and off from a vehicle; and

a hinged tail member rotatably attached adjacent the distal end of the tilt frame member;

wherein said tail member can be rotated between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member and a second position adjacent to the ground.

24. The system as described in claim 23 further comprising:

a first hydraulic mechanism for rotatably tilting said tilt frame member and a second hydraulic mechanism for rotatably moving said hinged tail member between said first and second positions.

25. The system as described in claim 23 wherein said tail member is rotatably connected to said tilt frame member by a pivot member and wherein a cable pulley is positioned on said pivot member.

26. The system as described in claim 23 further comprising a protective plate member positioned on said hinged tail member.

27. The system as described in claim 23 further comprising at least one hold down member on said hinged tail member.

28. A system for loading and unloading containers from a transport vehicle comprising:

an elongated tilt frame member rotatably attached to a transport vehicle;

a single cylinder reeving arrangement positioned on the tilt frame member for loading and unloading containers onto and off from a vehicle; and

a hinged tail member rotatably attached to the distal end of the tilt frame member;

wherein said tail member can be rotated between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member and a second position adjacent to the ground.

29. A method for loading and unloading containers onto a transport vehicle comprising:

a. providing an elongated tilt frame member rotatably attached to a transport vehicle;

b. providing a tail member pivotably attached to the rear of the elongated body by a pivot member and being actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder, said tail member being rotatably between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member and a second position adjacent the ground;

c. providing a dual hydraulic cylinder reeving arrangement on said tilt frame member for connecting to containers, said reeving arrangement having a cable member;

d. actuating pivotal rotation of said tail member to said second position;

e. connecting said cable member of said dual hydraulic cylinder reeving arrangement to a container;

f. activating said dual hydraulic cylinder reeving arrangement to assist in pulling a container up said tail member and onto said tilt frame member; and

g. rotating said tail member to said first position.

30. A method for loading and unloading a container from a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. providing a fixed elongated body attached to a transport vehicle;

b. providing a slidable carriage member on said elongated body;

c. providing a tail member pivotably attached to said elongated body;

d. providing an engaging system on said carriage for connecting to a container;

e. activating pivotal rotation of said tail member in a first direction;

f. connecting said engaging system to a container;

g. activating sliding of said carriage member along said elongated body to assist in loading said container onto said elongated body; and

h. activating pivotal rotation of said tail member in a second direction to assist in loading said container onto said elongated body.