Roll off hoist with hinged end portion

• US 8,465,246 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Duell, Charles A., Williams, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEENAN, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US12/476,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 414/478, 414/480, 414/491, 414/494, 414/500, 414/538, 414/812
• US Class Current: 414/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/16 actuated by fluid-operated mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/22 with cables, chains, or the like
• 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 containers, particularly in locations where the overhead height is limited. A hinged tail member at the rear end of the elongated body (a/k/a tilt frame member) is rotated to the ground allowing the containers to be loaded and unloaded without rotating the tilt frame to its maximum height. A cable reeving arrangement, such as a dual reeving arrangement, can be utilized to load and unload the container.

Claims

1. A system for loading and unloading a container onto and off of a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. a tilt frame member removably attached to a transport vehicle, where the tilt frame member has a pair of continuously rigid side rails with a length defined by a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front behind all tires on the vehicle, wherein for loading and unloading of a container to and from the transport vehicle, the front of the tilt frame member moves upward while the rear end of the tilt frame member moves downward;

b. a carriage slidably attached to the tilt frame member that travels along the tilt frame member during loading of a container onto the transport vehicle;

c. a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder having a fixed end and a moving end, the fixed end being attached toward the rear of the tilt frame member 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 tilt frame member to the front of the tilt frame member and necessarily causes the container attached to an engaging means to be loaded onto the tilt frame member;

d. the engaging means releasably engaging a container, where the engaging means is connected to and moves with the carriage along the tilt frame member when the central hydraulic cylinder is extended or retracted; and

e. a tail member rotatably attached to the rear of the tilt frame member, said tail member being rotated by at least one hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder; and

f. wherein said tail member can be rotated between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member, and a second position adjacent the ground.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably engaging a container is a cable hoist mechanism.

3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably engaging a container is a hook lift mechanism.

4. A method for loading and unloading a container onto and off of a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. providing a tilt frame member pivotably attached to a transport vehicle, where the tilt frame member has a pair of continuously rigid side rails with a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front behind all tires on the vehicle, wherein for loading and unloading of a container to and from the transport vehicle, the front of the tilt frame member moves upward while the rear of the tilt frame member moves downward, a carriage slidably attached to the tilt frame member, and a multi-stage central hydraulic cylinder connected to the carriage and having a fixed end and a moving end;

b. providing a tail member pivotably attached to the rear of the tilt frame member and being actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder, wherein said tail member can be rotated by the at least one hydraulic cylinder between a first position in alignment with said tilt frame member, and a second position adjacent the ground;

c. providing an engaging system on said carriage for connecting to a container;

d. actuating pivotal rotation of said tail member to the second position;

e. connecting said engaging system to a container; and

f. activating sliding of said carriage along said tilt frame member to assist in pulling a container along said tail member and onto said tilt frame member until the container is fully positioned on the tilt frame member.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said engaging system is a cable hoist system.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said engaging system is a hook lift system.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising raising the front of the tilt frame member during loading of a container onto said tilt frame member.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of raising the tail member to assist in loading a container onto the tilt frame member.

9. A method for loading and unloading a container onto and off of a transport vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. providing a fixed elongated body attached to a transport vehicle, the elongated body has a pair of continuously rigid side rails with a length defined by a front located adjacent to a transport vehicle cab and a rear located opposite the front behind all tires on the vehicle, wherein for loading and unloading of a container to and from the transport vehicle, the front of the elongated body moves upward while the rear of the elongated body moves downward;

b. providing a slidable carriage member on said elongated body;

c. providing a tail member pivotably attached to said elongated body;

d. providing an engaging system on said carriage for connecting to a container;

e. activating pivotal rotation of said tail member by at least one cylinder in a first direction to be adjacent the ground;

f. connecting said engaging system to a container;

g. activating sliding of said carriage member along said elongated body to assist in loading said container onto said elongated body; and

h. activating pivotal rotation of said tail member by the at least one cylinder in a second direction into alignment with the elongated body to assist in loading said container onto said elongated body.