CARGO TRANSFER SYSTEM USING A PALLETIZED RACK

• US 20110058923A1
• Filed: 09/14/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Refrigerated Express, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Refrigerated Express, Inc.
• Inventors: Campbell, Tom, Shoener, Art
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/400
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/002 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/022 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/04 Loading land vehicles loading or unloading boats to or from land vehicles B60P3/10

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for palletizing cargo on a rack for shipment are provided. The system generally includes a tiered rack having a base tier, a support framework extending from the base tier, and a second tier adjustably attached to the support framework. The system may further include a plurality of lower frame support members positioned longitudinally across the bottom of the base tier, and a plurality of pneumatically actuated rollers spaced to cooperatively engage the plurality of lower frame support members, the rollers being selectively extendable from a plurality of raised tracks positioned longitudinally along a floor of the railcar, where the rollers are configured to pneumatically extend past an upper surface of the track when actuated and allow for linear motion there over.

Claims

1. A system for loading a railcar, comprising:

a tiered rack having a base tier, a support framework extending from the base tier, and a second tier adjustably attached to the support framework;

a plurality of lower frame support members positioned longitudinally across the bottom of the base tier; and

a plurality of pneumatically actuated rollers spaced to cooperatively engage the plurality of lower frame support members, the rollers being selectively extendable from a plurality of raised tracks positioned longitudinally along a floor of the railcar, wherein the rollers are configured to pneumatically extend past an upper surface of the track when actuated and allow for linear motion thereover.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiered rack further comprises an air permeable wire mesh positioned to support cargo on the base tier and the second tier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tiered rack further comprises a mesh side wall and open cargo receiving ends.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mesh side wall further comprises at least two fork pockets configured to receive the forks of a forklift therein to raise and support the tiered rack.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second tier adjustably attached to the support framework is configured to be adjusted to receive varying heights of cargo on the base tier below the second tier.

6. A method for bulk loading a railcar without a forklift entering the railcar, comprising:

bulk loading a multi-tiered rack with cargo;

transporting the loaded multi-tiered rack through a loading opening of a railcar with a forklift;

positioning the loaded multi-tiered rack onto a plurality of raised tracks positioned on a floor of the railcar with the forklift, while supporting wheels of the forklift remain outside of the railcar;

moving the loaded multi-tiered rack from a position proximate the loading opening to a position within the railcar, the moving being conducted on a plurality of pneumatically extendable rollers extending from the plurality of raised tracks; and

securing the loaded multi-tiered rack in the railcar by retracting the extendable rollers to allow the loaded rack to rest on the raised tracks.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pneumatically extendable rollers are extended when the loaded multi-tiered rack is positioned in the railcar.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the multi-tiered rack comprises at least a first base tier and a second adjustably positioned tier above the first tier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second tiers are configured to be air permeable by having a wire mesh positioned thereon to support the cargo while allowing air to pass therethrough.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said multi-tiered rack includes a third tier positioned above the second tier, the third tier also being air permeable.

11. In combination with a railcar, an adjustable rack for supporting multiple tiers of cargo in the railcar, comprising:

a rigid structurally supporting base member having fork pockets on a side thereof;

an upright support framework extending upward from the base member;

a second tier adjustably attached to the support framework above the base member;

an air permeable cargo support member positioned to cover an upper surface of the second tier and an upper surface of the base member;

an air permeable theft prevention layer attached to the support framework on at least the first or second sides of the rack and substantially covering a surface of each of the first and second sides; and

a plurality of structural members positioned on a lower side of the base member and configured to engage a corresponding number of rollers positioned on a floor of the railcar.

12. The adjustable rack of claim 11, wherein the plurality of structural members are also configured to engage a corresponding number of raised track members positioned on the floor of the railcar, said raised track members being configured to contain the rollers, and means for selectively actuating the rollers to extend the rollers from the track to engage the plurality of structural members.

13. Apparatus for loading a box type railcar comprising:

a railway,

a loading area adjacent said railway,

a guideway generally parallel to said railway and extending through said loading area,

a transfer dock having a cargo container thereon and movable along said guideway to a loading position in the loading area for transfer of cargo to a railcar,

said cargo container having a base and at least one tier thereabove for receiving a load to be transported by the railcar, and

means for laterally transferring said cargo container as a unit from said loading position into said railcar, whereby the load is transferred to the railcar in a single operation.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guideway comprises a second railway, said transfer dock being movable along said second railway to said loading position.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for laterally transferring said cargo container into said railcar comprises a conveyor movable from said loading position laterally with respect to said railway and into said railcar to transfer said load from the conveyor to the railcar.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said conveyor includes a plurality of rollers movable to activated positions projecting upwardly from a floor of said railcar to present a roller track for lateral transfer of said load from said loading position into the railcar, and subsequent deactivated positions withdrawing said track.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said conveyor includes runners in said railcar for receiving said cargo container.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said conveyor includes a plurality of conveyor belts.

19. Apparatus for loading a box type railcar comprising:

a railway,

a loading area adjacent said railway,

a guideway generally parallel to said railway and extending through said loading area,

a transfer dock movable along said guideway to a loading position alongside a railcar on said railway at the loading area for transfer of palletized cargo to the railcar,

said transfer dock including a cargo container having a base and at least one tier thereabove for receiving a palletized load positioned alongside a railcar at the transfer dock, and

a conveyor for laterally transferring said cargo container as a unit from said loading position into said railcar, whereby the load is transferred to the railcar in a single operation.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said conveyor includes a plurality of rollers movable to activated positions projecting upwardly from a receiving surface of said transfer dock to present a roller track for lateral transfer of said palletized load from said loading position to the railcar, and subsequent deactivated positions withdrawn beneath said surface.

21. Apparatus for loading a box type railcar comprising:

a first railway,

a loading area adjacent said railway,

a second railway generally parallel to said first railway and extending through said loading area,

a transfer dock movable along said second railway to a loading position alongside a railcar on said first railway at the loading area for transfer of palletized cargo to a cargo container and onto the railcar,

said cargo container having a base and at least one tier thereabove for receiving a palletized load positioned alongside a railcar at the transfer dock, and

a conveyor for laterally transferring said cargo container as a unit from said loading position into said railcar, whereby the load is transferred to the railcar in a single operation.