Multi-Use Truck Mounted Rack System
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle mounted loading rack system comprising:
- a support structure, wherein a portion of the structures contacts and rests upon a vehicle;
a horizontal member affixed to the support structure;
a trolley disposed substantially in the same plane as the horizontal member, reversibly extendable from the horizontal member;
a hoist motor mounted on a relatively rearward portion of the trolley;
a trolley drive means for reversibly extending the trolley relative to the horizontal member;
an electrical controller adapted for monitoring and controlling the movement, usage and safety of the vehicle mounted loading rack system; and
wherein the hoist motor may be actuated to lift a load vertically, wherein the trolley drive means, when actuated, may move the lifted load horizontally relative to the vehicle, wherein the load may be lowered onto the vehicle or onto a surface outside the vehicle.
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Abstract
A multi-use vehicle mounted loading rack system adapted to safely lift and move loads onto and off of a truck. The system includes a support which rests on bed rails which rest on a truck bed, a horizontal member, a trolley which is reversibly extendable relative to the horizontal member, a hoist mounted on the trolley, and an electrical control system including a tilt sensor and other safety features.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A vehicle mounted loading rack system comprising:
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a support structure, wherein a portion of the structures contacts and rests upon a vehicle; a horizontal member affixed to the support structure; a trolley disposed substantially in the same plane as the horizontal member, reversibly extendable from the horizontal member; a hoist motor mounted on a relatively rearward portion of the trolley; a trolley drive means for reversibly extending the trolley relative to the horizontal member; an electrical controller adapted for monitoring and controlling the movement, usage and safety of the vehicle mounted loading rack system; and wherein the hoist motor may be actuated to lift a load vertically, wherein the trolley drive means, when actuated, may move the lifted load horizontally relative to the vehicle, wherein the load may be lowered onto the vehicle or onto a surface outside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A vehicle mounted loading rack system comprising:
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a support structure having bed rails affixed to vertical support members, wherein the bedrail is in contact with the sides of a truck bed, and wherein the vertical support members extend relatively vertical from the bed rails; a horizontal member having sides and a font defining corners;
wherein the sides of the horizontal member are affixed to the vertical supports, wherein the sides are shaped to define a wheel guide;a trolley having a front end and rear end, an end truck attached to the rear end, a pair of wheels mounted on the trolley and freely rotatable thereupon, wherein the wheels engage the wheel guide of the horizontal member; a hoist motor mounted on the end truck; a trolley motor mounted on a relatively front portion of the horizontal member; a drive shaft operatively coupled to the trolley motor, wherein the drive shaft is rotatably driven by the motor; a microcontroller having a plurality of analog to digital converter input pins, the microcontroller operatively coupled to a first and second Hall-effect integrated circuit electrically coupled to the hoist motor and the trolley motor respectively and electrically connected to an analog-to-digital pin, wherein a current flowing through the hoist motor sensed by the microcontroller and compared to a threshold value; a tilt sensor, wherein the tilt sensor comprises a three axis accelerometer, wherein the output is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of microcontroller analog to digital converter input pins; a real time clock; at least one controller area network (CAN) sensor designed to translate incoming and outgoing controller area network (CAN) protocol data to the microcontroller; a plurality of overcurrent detection means for protecting the hoist motor and the trolley motor from high current and protecting the rack system from lifting or moving a load greater than a specified limit; at least one input signal conditioning circuitry adapted to provide the voltage needed to the microcontroller, to reduce noise and switch bounce, and to protect the controller from high voltage transients; at least one trolley power control circuitry utilized for controlling the trolley motor; at least one alarm detection circuit designed for generating an audible alarm when the trolley moves; a control pendant electrically coupled to the motor control switches, wherein the pendant has four directional buttons and an emergency stop button. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of safely loading a load by utilizing a vehicle mounted loading rack system, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a load to be moved; providing a vehicle mounted rack system having a support structure, wherein a portion of the support structure makes contact and rests upon a vehicle; providing a horizontal member affixed to the support structure; providing a trolley disposed substantially in the same plane as the horizontal member, reversibly extendable from the horizontal member; providing a hoist motor mounted on a relatively rearward portion of the trolley; providing a trolley drive means for reversibly extending the trolley relative to the horizontal member; providing an electrical controller with a control pendant adapted for monitoring and controlling the movement, usage and safety of the vehicle mounted loading rack system; providing a DC motor controlling means to provide forward and reverse trolley movement, and up and down movement of the hoist motor and an emergency stop; attaching the load to the vehicle mounted loading rack system; actuating the hoist motor to raise the load above the level of the truck where the load is to be positioned; actuating the trolley motor in a frontward direction, wherein the trolley with hoisted load is moved horizontally toward the front of the truck; stopping the trolley motor when a desired horizontal position is reached; and actuating the hoist motor to lower the vehicle mounted loading rack system into the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification