System for loading/unloading containers

• US 7,572,091 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• 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): Adams; Gregory W
• Application Number:
  US11/906,123
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 414/546, 414/491, 414/494, 414/498, 414/421, 414/728, 414/477, 414/478, 414/500
• US Class Current: 414/494
• 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 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 system for loading or unloading a container or other structure from a transport vehicle comprising, in combination,

(a) an elongated body removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the elongated body comprises a track having an upper edge and has a length that is defined by a front end located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear end located opposite the front end;

(b) a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end and a moving end, where the fixed end is attached to the rear end of the elongated body and the moving end is attached directly to a 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 without using cables, wires, chains, or pulleys, where the carriage is slidably attached to the track of the elongated body and is adapted to transfer or distribute loads as it travels from the rear end to the front end of the elongated body during loading of a container or other structure onto the transport vehicle and where the carriage has mounted thereon a combination of,

first engaging mechanism comprising a L-shaped jib terminating with an integral hook connected to a first pair of hydraulic cylinders configured to raise and lower the jib about a pivot point, the jib having an unpivoted position wherein the first pair of hydraulic cylinders are horizontally located below a plane defined by the upper edge of the track and a pivoted position wherein the hydraulic cylinders protrude above the plane defined by the upper edge of the track;

a second engaging mechanism comprising a cable sheave and cable combination, where the cable slidably engages the cable sheave that is mounted on the carriage, where a fixed end of the cable is attached directly to the elongated body and a free end is configured to releasably engage the container or other structure such that as the carriage moves towards the front end of the elongated body the cable is pulled around the cable sheave and pulls a connected container or other structure in the same direction as the carriage;

where the first and second engaging mechanisms are adapted to releasably engage a container or other structure and are connected to and move with the carriage along the entire length of the elongated body when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted, where extension of the central hydraulic cylinder moves the carriage to the front end of the elongated body and necessarily causes the container or other structure attached to one of the first or second engaging mechanism to be loaded onto the elongated body and retraction of the central hydraulic cylinder accomplishes rearward movement of the container or other structure; and

(c) a second pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the transport vehicle and to the elongated body and oriented such that when the pair of cylinders are extended the front end of elongated body is lifted to a position above the rear end of the elongated body.

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

(a) an elongated body removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the elongated body comprises a track having an upper edge and has a length that is defined by a front end located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear end located opposite the front end;

(b) a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end and a moving end and having an integral mid-support member configured to move along the track as the cylinder is retracted and collapsed, where the fixed end is attached to the rear end of the elongated body and the moving end is attached directly to a 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 without using cables, wires, chains, or pulleys, where the carriage is slidably attached to the track of the elongated body and is adapted to transfer or distribute loads as it travels from the rear end to the front end of the elongated body during loading of a container or other structure onto the transport vehicle and where the carriage has mounted thereon a combination of, a first engaging mechanism comprising a L-shaped jib terminating with an integral hook connected to a first pair of hydraulic cylinders configured to raise and lower the jib about a pivot point, the jib having an unpivoted position wherein the first pair of hydraulic cylinders are horizontally located below a plane defined by the upper edge of the track and a pivoted position wherein the hydraulic cylinders protrude above the plane defined by the upper edge of the track;

a second engaging mechanism comprising a cable sheave and cable combinations, where the cable slidably engages the cable sheave that is mounted on the carriage, where a fixed end of the cable is attached directly to the elongated body and a free end is configured to releasably engage the container or other structure such that as the carriage moves towards the front end of the elongated body the cable is pulled around the cable sheave and pulls a connected container or other structure in the same direction as the carriage,

a third engaging mechanism comprising a bearing surface on the jib adapted to contact the container when the carriage is moved towards the rear end of the elongated body, wherein said third engaging mechanism can be used to move the container or other structure substantially along the length of the elongated body;

where the first and second engaging mechanisms are adapted to releasably engage a container or other structure and are connected to and move with the carriage along the entire length of the elongated body when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted, where extension of the central hydraulic cylinder moves the carriage to the front end of the elongated body and necessarily causes the container or other structure attached to one of the first or second engaging mechanism to be loaded onto the elongated body and retraction of the central hydraulic cylinder accomplishes rearward movement of the container when the bearing surface contacts the container; and

(c) a second pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the transport vehicle and to the elongated body and oriented such that when the pair of cylinders are extended the front end of elongated body is lifted to a position above the rear end of the elongated body.