MECHANIZED VAN LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 3,811,579 A
• Filed: 09/25/1972
• Issued: 05/21/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David F. Black
• Original Assignee: David F. Black
• Inventors: Black, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheridan, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/291,663
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 214/38B,38BA,38C,38CC,38D,515-517,518,75R,75G,75H
• US Class Current: 414/347
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/02 Loading or unloading land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 67/20 Loading covered vehicles

Abstract

Apparatus and a system for its use including mechanized means for moving a load of freight, as a unit, into or out of a vantype trailer, and a mechanized carrier for transporting portions of the load thereon which carrier is designed to take up a minimum cubic area within the trailer interior. The mechanized carrier is arranged to travel the length of the trailer and is capable of lateral and vertical movement therein to bring freight supporting means into contact with selected items of freight. The carrier is installed at the rear of the trailer behind or at the face of a load to off-load, at a delivery point, all or part of a load. The mechanized carrier is mounted to travel on rails arranged within the trailer, which railway can be extended out from the trailer and be supported on a dock area or by an appropriate stanchion to the ground below the trailer such that the carrier can exit the trailer thereover and deposit a portion of the load of freight onto the dock area or directly onto the ground below the trailer.

Claims

1. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus comprising a skid;

means for supporting said skid while a load of freight is arranged thereon, said means for supporting said skid being arranged to position the undersurface of said skid just above the floor of a van-type trailer having a closed roof thereon;

means for moving said skid into said van-type trailer over the floor thereof;

means for moving said skid from said trailer back onto said skid supporting means;

a freight handling carrier means capable of being moved into and out of said van-type trailer for picking up and transporting items of freight thereon;

rail means arranged in said trailer for supporting and on which said freight handling carrier means moves longitudinally within said trailer, entirely beneath the roof thereof and above the skid when the skid is positioned to overlie the floor, said rail means being extensible outwardly from the rear of said trailer such that said carrier can move thereon outside said trailer;

means releasably preventing movement of said carrier from the rail means; and

means for controlling movement of said skid and said freight handling carrier.

2. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the skid includes a flat metal plate having a narrow thickness with width and length dimensions which are somewhat less than are the boundary dimensions of the trailer floor;

and attachment means arranged in at least one end of said skid for connection with the means for moving said skid.

3. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting said skid includes a frame having upstanding sides and ends spaced such that the distances between the sides and ends conforms to at least the dimensions of the skid and having a plurality of rollers within the sides and ends with roller surfaces projecting upwardly therefrom to receive the skid;

and a plurality of rollers arranged in the floor for supporting said skid thereon.

4. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for moving said skid in said van-type trailer, along the floor thereof includes a winch means having a rotatable drum arranged therewith;

means for rotating said winch drum;

a cable positioned over said rotatable winch drum and arranged such that an end thereof moves longitudinally within said van-type trailer when said winch drum is rotated; and

means for attaching said cable end to the end of said skid.

5. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as reCited in claim 4, wherein the means for rotating said winch drum includes a hydraulic motor.

6. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the cable is arranged over the winch drum such that it has both its ends connected to the end of the skid;

and said cable is positioned to travel over rollers arranged in the front and rear ends respectively of the trailer, whereby rotation of said winch drum in one direction moves one cable end towards the trailer rear with the other cable end traveling therewith, and whereby reversal of said winch drum reverses the direction of the cable ends.

7. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 4, further including roller means spaced in the trailer floor, for supporting the skid as it is moved thereover.

8. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the roller means consists of a plurality of individual rollers each recessed into the trailer floor and arranged to turn axially rotating towards the trailer nose and rear ends respectively.

9. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the freight handling carrier means consists of a frame;

driver wheel means rotatably connected to said frame which driver wheel means are arranged to travel on the rail means;

means for turning said driver wheel means;

freight supporting means movably connected to said carrier means frame, to be movable both laterally and vertically within said trailer, for picking up and supporting items of freight thereon;

means for moving said freight supporting means laterally and vertically;

means for moving said carrier freight supporting means, vertically to a point below the plane of said trailer floor, when said carrier is moved on said rail means to a point beyond the end of said trailer when said rail means is extended from said trailer rear; and

means for controlling movement of said carrier means and said freight supporting means arranged therewith.

10. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the freight supporting means consists of a fork lifting frame arranged to travel vertically and laterally on said carrier means frame;

fork tines projecting outwardly from said fork lifting frame; and

means for moving said fork lifting frame so as to move said fork tines vertically and laterally.

11. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 10, where hydraulic means are arranged within said fork lifting frame for moving said fork lifting frame vertically and laterally.

12. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for moving said carrier means freight supporting means vertically to a point below the plane of the trailer floor consists of sections of lifting frames, telescoped together, which lifting frames are arranged to be displaced vertically, one within the other, varying the distance between the ends of said telescoped lifting frames, with one end of said telescoped lifting frames attached to the freight handling carrier frame;

means for telescoping together and moving apart the sections of lifting frames; and

means for connecting said freight supporting means to said sections of lifting frames, which connection means will allow said freight supporting means to move vertically along said sections of lifting frame.

13. Mechanized van loading and unloading apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for controlling movement of said skid and said freight handling carrier means consists of electrical control means controlling the means for moving said skid, said freight handling carrier means and the freight supporting means of said freight handling carrier means;

and electrical switches arranged to energize appropriate electrical circuits to initiate and discontinue operations respectively of said means for moving said skid, said freight handling carrier means, and said freight supporting means of said freight handling carrier means.