TRANSPORT DEVICE

• US 3,578,145 A
• Filed: 02/11/1969
• Issued: 05/11/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Guenther L. Kuehl
• Original Assignee: Guenther L. Kuehl
• Inventors: Kuehl, Guenther L.
• Application Number:
  US04/798,366
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• US Class Current: 198/632
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/02 with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 ; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/123 arranged to keep the load-carriers horizontally during at least a part of the conveyor run
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 21/14 to allow adjustment of length or configuration of load-carrier or traction element varying speed of conveyance by adjusting configuration of load-carrier B65G23/00; tensioning arrangements for belt or chain B65G23/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/02 Articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/24 having platform level adjusting means

Abstract

In the several embodiments of the invention described herein, an adjustable transport device is provided which includes a multiple chain drive system for transporting unit loads of material between a number of vertically and laterally displaced locations. In one embodiment, the device is provided as a truck attachment, and in a second embodiment, the vertical lift is permanently installed in a truck dock. In the third embodiment, a transport device for aircraft and the like carriers is provided with selfadjusting features and a unique platform construction. In a fourth embodiment, a transport device provides perpetual motion bridging for transporting people or material across obstacles and in the fifth and sixth embodiments, telescoping transport devices are provided. In a seventh embodiment, an inverted transport system is provided for transporting unit loads of material between at least three locations.

Claims

1. A transport device comprising a frame member, said frame member comprising a first collapsible section, a second stationary section and a third collapsible section arranged in superposed rElationship, a plurality of offset and movable pairs of endless flexible support members supported in their travel by the frame member, a first plurality of offset pairs of guide members for maintaining the flexible support members coextensive and for guiding the support members upwardly through said first, second and third superposed sections, a second plurality of spaced offset pairs of guide members mounted in the third collapsible section and engaging selected pairs of support members for guiding the support members in a lateral direction, a third plurality of offset pairs of offset guide members mounted on the first, second and third sections for guiding the support members to the first plurality of offset pairs of guide members, and platform means, the platform means comprising a plurality of spaced rigid linear members, each member being connected at its ends to one pair of said movable endless support members.

2. A transport device according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of spaced offset guide members comprise a plurality of guide members mounted on the first section for guiding the support members upwardly through said first section, a second plurality of spaced offset guide members mounted on the second section for guiding the support members upwardly through said second section and a third plurality of spaced offset guide members located above said second plurality of guide members and mounted on the second section for guiding said support members upwardly through said third section to said second plurality of spaced offset pairs of guide members.

3. A transport device according to claim 1 wherein the platform means further comprises cover means having s width corresponding to the displacement between the innermost support members and attached at its opposite ends to the first and last spaced rigid linear members composing the platform means.

4. A transport device according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of pairs of movable endless flexible support members comprise a plurality of pairs of flexible chains and have attached thereto coupling members for elevating the rigid linear members above the chain pairs and for coupling the rigid linear members to said plurality of pairs of flexible chains.

5. In a transport device, the improvement which comprises:

at least three pairs of offset and movable endless flexible support members adapted to be driven in a plurality of directions and a load supporting platform means, the platform means comprising a plurality of spaced rigid linear members, each member being connected at its ends to one pair of said movable endless support members.

6. The transport device according to claim 5 wherein the first spaced rigid linear member is connected to the innermost endless flexible support member and the last rigid linear member is connected to the outermost endless flexible support member, the intervening members being connected selectively to the endless support flexible members separating the innermost and outermost flexible support members.

7. A transport device according to claim 5 wherein the platform means further comprises cover means having a width corresponding to the displacement between the innermost support members and attached at its opposite ends to the first and last spaced rigid linear members composing the platform means.

8. A transport device according to claim 5 wherein the flexible support members comprise flexible chains.