System and method for loading/unloading containers

• US 7,568,881 B1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: M&D RP, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Collins, Virgil L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox; Charles A
• Application Number:
  US11/301,844
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 414/478, 414/435, 414/473, 414/477, 414/346, 414/812
• US Class Current: 414/812
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6454 the load transporting element being shifted by means of an inclined ramp connected to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/6463 fitted with articulated beams for longitudinal displacement of the container

Abstract

A container handling system and method for a wheeled transport vehicle is disclosed that is capable of loading and unloading large containers using both a hook lift and cable winch mechanisms.

Claims

1. A method for loading or unloading a container from a transport vehicle to a trailer or other wheeled vehicle comprising, in combination,

a. providing an elongated body removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the elongated body has a front and rear, a carriage, with at least one bearing surface, slidably attached to the elongated body, and a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder connected to the carriage and having a fixed end and a moving end, where the carriage is substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to remain in a linear plane defined by the elongated body;

b. providing a container having a front end positioned on the elongated body and in bearing contact with the bearing surface on the carriage, where the carriage moves along the entire length of the elongated body when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended and retracted;

c. positioning and aligning the transport vehicle with a trailer or other wheeled surface;

d. sliding the container onto the trailer or other wheeled vehicle by retracting the central hydraulic cylinder so that the carriage moves towards the rear of the elongated body while the bearing surface pushes on the front end of the container causing it to at least partially move onto the trailer or other wheeled device; and

e. rotating an engaging means pivotally attached to the carriage towards the rear of the elongated body, whereby the engaging means comes into bearing contact with the container causing the container to slide in a rearward direction along the elongated body.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating the engaging means after the carriage has traveled to the rear of elongated body when the central cylinder is fully retracted.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising pushing the container completely onto the trailer or other wheeled vehicle by rotating the engaging means.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising raising the front of elongated body causing the engaging means to push the container onto the trailer or other wheeled vehicle.

5. A method for unloading material in a container comprising, in combination,

a. providing an elongated body removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the elongated body has a length defined by a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front, a carriage, with at least one bearing surface, slidably attached to the elongated body, and a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder connected to the carriage, longitudinally extendable along the length of the elongated body, and having a fixed end and a moving end, where the carriage is substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to remain in a linear plane defined by the elongated body;

b. providing a container having a front end, a back end, and a bottom, that is loaded with material positioned on the elongated body and in bearing contact at the front end and not the bottom with the bearing surface of the carriage;

c. positioning the transport vehicle adjacent a dump site;

d. elevating the front of the elongated body; and

e. actuating the central hydraulic cylinder causing the carriage and container to move longitudinally forward and backward along a portion of the length of the elevated elongated member imparting a shaking action to the container and causing the material in the container to be unloaded at the dump site out of the back end.

6. A system for loading or unloading a container from a transport vehicle comprising, in combination,

a. an elongated body removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the elongated body has an outside and a length defined by a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front;

b. a carriage slidably attached to the outside of the elongated body that travels from the rear to the front of the elongated body during loading of a container onto the transport vehicle, where the carriage is substantially rectangular in shape and adapted to remain in a linear plane defined by the elongated body;

c. a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end and a moving end, where the fixed end is attached to the rear of the elongated body and the moving end is attached to the carriage such that extending and retracting the central hydraulic cylinder moves the carriage from the rear of the elongated body to the front of the elongated body and necessarily causes the container attached to the engaging means to be loaded onto the elongated body;

d. means for releasably engaging a container, where the engaging means is connected to and moves with the carriage along the entire length of the elongated body when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted; and

e. a slidable cylinder support not connected to the carriage and attached to at least one stage of the central hydraulic cylinder where the slidable cylinder support is configured to move independently of the carriage and only when the at least one stage moves, to support the central hydraulic cylinder, and to move along the elongated member during extension and retraction of the central hydraulic cylinder.