Translating Cargo Assembly

• US 20180043812A1
• Filed: 08/11/2017
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartel, Harlan John, Steinert, Royce A., Funk, Brian R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/06 actuated by mechanical gearing only
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/28 Tipping body constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/34 the other movement being raising or lowering

Abstract

Aspects hereof relate to a translating cargo assembly for a vehicle. The translating cargo assembly may include a translation mechanism, which may be affixed to a cargo frame of the vehicle. The translating cargo assembly may also include a carrier frame that is coupled with the translation mechanism and configured to mate with cargo implements. A drive mechanism, such as a rotary actuator, may be coupled with the translation mechanism. The rotary actuator may be effective to translate the carrier frame through a range of positions including a transport position, in which the carrier frame may be adjacent to the cargo frame, and a loading position, in which the carrier frame may be proximate ground level.

Claims

1. A translating cargo assembly, comprising:

a translation mechanism comprising;

a first pivot link having a first pivot link first end and a first pivot link second end, the first pivot link pivotably coupled to a cargo frame at the first pivot link first end;

a second pivot link having a second pivot link first end and a second pivot link second end, the second pivot link pivotably coupled to the cargo frame at the second pivot link second end;

a carrier frame pivotably connected with the first pivot link second end and the second pivot link second end; and

a drive mechanism coupled with the cargo frame and movably coupled with the translation mechanism at the first pivot link first end,

wherein the drive mechanism is effective to move the carrier frame between a transport position and a loading position.

2. The cargo assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotary actuator with an output shaft that provides a rotational force about a first axis.

3. The cargo assembly of claim 2, wherein the second pivot link is fixedly attached to the output shaft of the rotary actuator, such that rotation of the output shaft causes rotation of the second pivot link about the first axis.

4. The cargo assembly of claim 3, further comprising a second rotational axis at the rotatable coupling of the first pivot link and the mount, a third rotational axis at the coupling of the second pivot link to the carrier frame, and a fourth rotational axis at the rotatable coupling of the first pivot link to the carrier frame.

5. The cargo assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotation of the output shaft simultaneously rotates the cargo assembly about the first rotational axis, the second rotational axis, the third rotational axis, and the fourth rotational axis.

6. The cargo assembly of claim 5, wherein the rotation of the output shaft translates the cargo assembly between the transport position and the loading position.

7. The cargo assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pivot link, the carrier frame, and the second pivot link are positioned above a horizontal plane defined by the cargo frame when the cargo assembly is in the transport position.

8. The cargo assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cargo implement mated with the carrier frame.

9. The cargo assembly of claim 1, wherein the cargo frame is a portion of a frame of a utility task vehicle.

10. A translating cargo assembly, comprising:

a translation mechanism comprising;

a pivot link having a pivot link first end and a pivot link second end, the pivot link pivotably coupled to a cargo frame at the pivot link first end;

a carrier frame pivotably connected with the pivot link second end; and

a first drive mechanism coupled with the cargo frame and movably coupled with the translation mechanism at the pivot link first end,

wherein the first drive mechanism is effective to move the carrier frame between a transport position and a loading position.

11. The cargo assembly of claim 10, wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a rotary actuator with an output shaft that provides a rotational force about a first axis.

12. The cargo assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second drive mechanism coupled with the carrier frame and rotatably coupled with the pivot link second end.

13. The cargo assembly of claim 12, wherein the second drive mechanism comprises a second rotary actuator drivingly coupled with the pivot link second end.

14. The cargo assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second pivot link having a second pivot link first end and a second pivot link second end, the second pivot link pivotably coupled to the cargo frame at the second pivot link second end.

15. A translating cargo assembly, comprising:

a mount coupled with a cargo frame;

a translation mechanism comprising;

a first pivot link having a first pivot link first end and a first pivot link second end, the first pivot link pivotably coupled to the mount at the first pivot link first end;

a second pivot link having a second pivot link first end and a second pivot link second end, the second pivot link pivotably coupled to the mount at the second pivot link second end;

a carrier frame pivotably connected with the first pivot link second end and the second pivot link second end; and

a drive mechanism coupled with the mount and movably coupled with the translation mechanism at the first pivot link first end,

wherein the drive mechanism is effective to move the carrier frame between a transport position and a loading position.

16. The cargo assembly of claim 15, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rotary actuator with that provides a rotational force about a first axis.

17. The cargo assembly of claim 15, further comprising a cargo implement mated with the carrier frame.

18. The cargo assembly of claim 17, wherein the cargo implement is a cargo bed.

19. The cargo assembly of claim 17, wherein the cargo implement is a tank sprayer.

20. The cargo assembly of claim 15, wherein the cargo frame is the frame of a vehicle.