Cargo handling system

• US 5,378,105 A
• Filed: 11/02/1992
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Palko
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Palko
• Inventors: Palko, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLER JR, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/970,067
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 414/495, 414/541, 414/545, 414/343, 414/347, 414/345, 414/540, 414/104, 410/67, 410/66, 410/94, 410/95, 410/79
• US Class Current: 414/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/44 having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element vehicles with special provisions for invalids comprising means for loading or unloading invalid conveyances A61G3/02

Abstract

A cargo handling and restraining system for loading, unloading, and transporting cargo containers in a carrier vehicle. The carrier is provided with a supporting floor (bed) having a plurality of tracks disposed thereon. The tracks include a channel disposed between a pair of spaced, horizontally extending members, and each container is provided with members which "ride" in the channel of the tracks to move the containers along the track. A hook assembly is provided at opposite ends and on the bottom of the containers for engaged relation with a retaining mechanism which positively locks adjacent containers together and to the track. A locking member is provided for rigidly securing the last loaded container (toward the rear of the bed) to the track. A cargo loader mechanism is provided to load and unload the cargo onto and off of the bed, and a cargo cart is provided to transport the cargo from or to a storage bin.

Claims

1. A cargo handling and restraining system for use in loading, unloading, and transporting of cargo containers in a carrier having a cargo supporting floor comprising:

a plurality of tracks extending longitudinally along said floor, said tracks having an upper surface provided with a pair of spaced, laterally extending portions and a channel extending between said laterally extending portions;

said container having support members on the bottom thereof, said support members disposed for riding in said channel of said tracks during loading and unloading of said containers and for locked relation with said tracks during transportation of said containers, said containers being permitted to move longitudinally along said track while in said locked relation with said tracks;

first locking means cooperating with said container and said tracks to securely lock said containers to said tracks during the transportation thereof;

said cargo containers being provided with forward, rear, top, and bottom surfaces, and said first locking means being defined as a container/track locking assembly which is positioned in mating adjacent relation with said sear surface adjacent to said bottom surface of the last container placed on said cargo supporting floor, said first locking means having securing means for securing said last container to said tracks;

said first locking means including an upper plate, first and second downwardly extending side portions, and a pair of track engaging portions, each track engaging portion respectively extending in substantially normal relation to said downwardly extending portions; and

said securing means is a disc eccentrically, rotatably mounted on a shaft extending between said downwardly extending portions, said disc having a lever arm extending therefrom for movement therewith, and retaining means for engaging said lever arm for retaining said lever arm in a predetermined position responsive to rotational movement thereof, whereby said disc performs a camming action against said track and said upper plate for secured relation of said first locking means to said track.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retaining means is a member threadably mounted in said upper plate and having a lower surface for engaged relation with said lever arm.

3. A cargo handling and restraining system for use in loading, unloading, and transporting of cargo containers in a carrier having a cargo supporting floor comprising:

a plurality of tracks extending longitudinally along said floor, said tracks having an upper surface provided with a pair of spaced, laterally extending portions and a channel extending between said laterally extending portions;

said container having forward, rear, top, and bottom surfaces and support members on the bottom thereof, said support members disposed for riding in said channel of said tracks during loading and unloading of said containers and for locked relation with said tracks during transportation of said containers, said containers being permitted to move longitudinally along said tracks while in said locked relation with said tracks;

first locking means cooperating with said container and said tracks to securely lock said containers to said tracks during the transportation thereof, said first locking means being defined as a container/track locking assembly which is positioned in mating adjacent relation with said rear surface adjacent to said bottom surface of the last container placed on said cargo supporting floor, said first locking means having securing means for securing said last container to said tracks;

container hook means provided on said forward and rear surface, adjacent to said bottom surface, of said cargo containers;

second locking means disposed for positioning between adjacent cargo containers for engaging a first said hook means extending from said forward surface of a first cargo container and for engaging a second said hook means extending from said rearward surface of a second, adjacent cargo container for secured relation of said first and second containers; and

said second locking means includes an inverted U-shaped member, the upper portion of said U-shaped member having a downwardly projecting portion, extending between spaced side portions of said U-shaped member, and a pair of track engaging members, each track engaging member extending in substantially normal relation to a said side portion of said U-shaped member.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a loader having an elevatable upper platform for receiving said containers thereon and elevating said containers to a predetermined lever whereby said containers are moved from said platform with said support members adapted for positioning in said channel of said tracks.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a transfer cart having an upper surface, said cart disposed for moving said container to said loader whereby said container is transferred from said upper surface of said transfer cart to said elevatable platform of said loader.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said loader and said transfer cart are provided with tracks having an upper surface provided with a pair of spaced, laterally extending portions and a channel extending between said laterally extending portions, said tracks of said cargo supporting floor of said carrier, said loader and said transfer cart disposed for aligned relation during the loading and unloading of said container.