GB1591015A

GB1591015A - Load-transporting equipment

Info

Publication number: GB1591015A
Application number: GB3607176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Alcan Aluminum Ltd; SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd
Current assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan Inc; SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd
Priority date: 1976-08-31
Filing date: 1976-08-31
Publication date: 1981-06-10
Also published as: IE45475L; NL7709610A; DK385377A; BE858308A; IE45475B1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATjNG Td LOAD-TRANSPORT"'ING EQUIPMENT (71) We, ALCAN ALUMINIUM (U.K.) LIMITED, a British Company, of Alcan House, 30 Berkeley Square, London W1 to hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to loadtransporting, and more particularly to a load-transporting vehicle having a readily demountable load-carrying body.

According to the present invention there is provided a load carrying vehicle comprising a chassis part and a body part which, in use, is removably mounted on the chassis part, the chassis part being provided with lifting means for lifting the body part from and lowering the body part into a use position supported on the chassis part, and one of the chassis part and the body part being provided with at least one spigot for engaging a tapering guide member secured to the other of the chassis part and the body part whereby, in use, as the body part is lowered towards the use position the oneach spigot engages a respective guide member to guide the body part longitudinally and transversely'of the chassis part into a desired position relative to the chassis part.

Preferably, there are two spigots fixed to the chassis part along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle for cooperating with two hollow conical guide members spaced apart by the s:ame' distance' -as-the spigots along the longitudinal axis of body part. The lifting means preferably comprises a first pair of hydraulic rams coupled to a first lifting beam extending transversely of the chassis part near the front of the body part, and a second pair of hydraulic rams coupled to a second lifting beam extending transversely of the chassis part near the rear of the body part.To lift the body part all four rams are extended together to move both lifting' 'beams into contact with the body part, and thereafter lift the body part clear of support surfaces of the chassis part on which it rests in its use position. With the body lifted in this manner legs provided on the -body part can be lowered to support the body part on the ground when the rams are retracted.

The body part can be any structure which it is desired to mount removably on a vehicle chassis. It may, for example, be a closed container,- an open bulk transport container or a flat bed for receiving items to be carried.

The invention with be better understood from the following description of a prefer red embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a vehicle having a demountable body; !Figures 2 and 3 are -respectively schematic plan and elevational views of the chassis part of the vehicle of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 illustrate schematically the demounting of the body part of the vehicle of Figure 1; and Figure 6 illustrates schematically the re mounting of the body part: The vehicle 1 shown in the drawings comprises a chassis part 2 in the form of a lorry chassis, and a body part 3 in the form of a closed container.In its normal use position, as shown in Figure 1, the container 3 rests of support surfaces 4, 5 defined on top of longitudinally extending chassis mem ber 6, 7 and is secured to the lorry chassis by four locks 8 to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The lorry chassis 2 is provided with two lifting beams 9, 10 each extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Adjacent each end of each lifting beam a vertically estendable hydraulic ram 11 is coupled between the lifting beam and a respective chassis member 6,7, whereby, by extending the rams 11, the lifting beams may be raised relative to the chassis members.

The lorry chassis 2 is also provided with two lock beams 12,13 extending transversely to the axis of the vehicle and secured to the chassis members 6,7. The outer end of each beam 12,13 carries a lock 8 for cooperation with lock resesses on the container 3 to secure the container to the lorry chassis.

Advantageously the locks 8 are I.S.O. twist locks and the container is provided with I.S.O. corner castings or plates 19 having openings for cooperation with the twist locks.

A vertically extending spigot 14,15 is secured to each lock beam on the longitu- dinal axis of the vehicle. The spigots 14,15 extend upwardly above' the chassis members 6;7 and the lock beams 12,13 'and have hardened, rounded upper ends for coopera- tion with hollow; conical guide members 16,17 secured exposed on the underside of container 3.

The container 3 is provided with four legs 18 which can be locked in a stowed position as shown in Figure 1, when the container is mounted in its normal use position on the chassis part, and which can be lowered to and locked in a use position, as shown in Figure 5, to support the container on the ground when it is demounted from the lorry chassis.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5,-on order to demount the container 3 the twist-locks & are first released, -and all four rams 11 are extended to bring the lifting beams 9, 10 into contact with the underside of the container and lift the container away from the support surfaces of the lorry chassis. The legs 18 are then lowered and locked in their use position. Advantage-ous- ly the legs 18 are telescopic so that their length may be adjusted to take account of uneven ground. When the legs-ha-ve been adjusted and locked in position (Figure 4) the rams 11 are retracted to lower the container' until its weight is taken by the legs -18.The rams - are then further retracted to lower the lifting beams out of contact with the container. The lorry chassis is then driven away leaving the container supported on the legs 18 (Figure 5).

To remount the container, the lorry is reversed under the container 'until it is approximately in the correct location below the container. The rams 11 are then ex tended to lift the container clear '-of - - the ground, and the legs 18 are moved to their stowed position and locked in place (Figure 6).

The rams are then retracted to lower the container. If, as is probable, the container is not directly above its correct location on the vehicle chassis, the spigots 14,15 will enga'ge a sloping surface of the hollow conical guide members as the container is lowered. The sloping surfaces-acting against the fixed spigots have a camming effect as the con tainer is lowered further, thereby centering the container precisely on the lorry chassis The conical guide members and spigots are so - shaped and positioned that when the container is resting on the support surfaces of the lorry chassis, the spigots are located in the apices of the conical guide members.

It will be observed that, because the guide members are conical, the centering of the container' on ' the lorry cha's-sis will; be 'effected in both the longitudinal and trans verse directions of the lorry.

After the rams have been fully retracted and the container is resting in its use position on the support surfaces of the lorry chassis, the locks 8 are operated to lock the container to the chassis part and.the vehicle is ready to move.

;Whilst in the; embodiment' 'shown the spigots 14,15 are secured to the lock beams, the spigots may, if desired, be located elsewhere on the lorry chassis. Also, whilst in the preferred embodiment the guide members 16,17 are conical, tapering guide members of any suitable shape' can be employed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A load-carrying vehicle comprising a chassis part and a body part which, in use, is removably mounted on the chassis part, the chassis part being provided with lifting means for lifting -the --body part from and lowering then body part into a -use position supported on the chassis part, and one of the chassis part and the body part being provided with at least one spigot for engaging a tapering guide member secured to the other of the chassis part and the body part whereby, in use, as the body part is lowered towards the use-position the or each spigot 'engages-a respective guide member to guide the body part longitudinally and transverse ly bf the chassis part into a desired position relative to the chassis part.

2. A load-carrying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein there are two spigots each for engaging a hollow conical guide member.

3. A load-carrying vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the--spigots' -are fixed to the chassis part spaced apart along the longitu dinal axis of the vehicle and the hollow conical guide members are spaced apart by the same' distance as the spigots along the longitudinal axis of the body part.

4. 4. - -A load-carrying' vehicle.according to - -any preceding claim wherein the lifting means comprises a first pair of hydraulic rams coupled to a first lifting beam extend ing transversely of the chassis part near the

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Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

respective chassis member 6,7, whereby, by extending the rams 11, the lifting beams may be raised relative to the chassis members.

The lorry chassis 2 is also provided with two lock beams 12,13 extending transversely to the axis of the vehicle and secured to the chassis members 6,7. The outer end of each beam 12,13 carries a lock 8 for cooperation with lock resesses on the container 3 to secure the container to the lorry chassis.

Advantageously the locks 8 are I.S.O. twist locks and the container is provided with I.S.O. corner castings or plates 19 having openings for cooperation with the twist locks.

A vertically extending spigot 14,15 is secured to each lock beam on the longitu- dinal axis of the vehicle. The spigots 14,15 extend upwardly above' the chassis members 6;7 and the lock beams 12,13 'and have hardened, rounded upper ends for coopera- tion with hollow; conical guide members 16,17 secured exposed on the underside of container 3.

The container 3 is provided with four legs

18 which can be locked in a stowed position as shown in Figure 1, when the container is mounted in its normal use position on the chassis part, and which can be lowered to and locked in a use position, as shown in Figure 5, to support the container on the ground when it is demounted from the lorry chassis.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5,-on order to demount the container 3 the twist-locks & are first released, -and all four rams 11 are extended to bring the lifting beams 9, 10 into contact with the underside of the container and lift the container away from the support surfaces of the lorry chassis. The legs 18 are then lowered and locked in their use position. Advantage-ous- ly the legs 18 are telescopic so that their length may be adjusted to take account of uneven ground. When the legs-ha-ve been adjusted and locked in position (Figure 4) the rams 11 are retracted to lower the container' until its weight is taken by the legs -18.The rams - are then further retracted to lower the lifting beams out of contact with the container. The lorry chassis is then driven away leaving the container supported on the legs 18 (Figure 5).

To remount the container, the lorry is reversed under the container 'until it is approximately in the correct location below the container. The rams 11 are then ex tended to lift the container clear '-of - - the ground, and the legs 18 are moved to their stowed position and locked in place (Figure 6).

The rams are then retracted to lower the container. If, as is probable, the container is not directly above its correct location on the vehicle chassis, the spigots 14,15 will enga'ge a sloping surface of the hollow conical guide members as the container is lowered. The sloping surfaces-acting against the fixed spigots have a camming effect as the con tainer is lowered further, thereby centering the container precisely on the lorry chassis The conical guide members and spigots are so - shaped and positioned that when the container is resting on the support surfaces of the lorry chassis, the spigots are located in the apices of the conical guide members.

It will be observed that, because the guide members are conical, the centering of the container' on ' the lorry cha's-sis will; be 'effected in both the longitudinal and trans verse directions of the lorry.

After the rams have been fully retracted and the container is resting in its use position on the support surfaces of the lorry chassis, the locks 8 are operated to lock the container to the chassis part and.the vehicle is ready to move.

;Whilst in the; embodiment' 'shown the spigots 14,15 are secured to the lock beams, the spigots may, if desired, be located elsewhere on the lorry chassis. Also, whilst in the preferred embodiment the guide members 16,17 are conical, tapering guide members of any suitable shape' can be employed.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A load-carrying vehicle comprising a chassis part and a body part which, in use, is removably mounted on the chassis part, the chassis part being provided with lifting means for lifting -the --body part from and lowering then body part into a -use position supported on the chassis part, and one of the chassis part and the body part being provided with at least one spigot for engaging a tapering guide member secured to the other of the chassis part and the body part whereby, in use, as the body part is lowered towards the use-position the or each spigot 'engages-a respective guide member to guide the body part longitudinally and transverse ly bf the chassis part into a desired position relative to the chassis part.
2. A load-carrying vehicle according to claim 1 wherein there are two spigots each for engaging a hollow conical guide member.
3. A load-carrying vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the--spigots' -are fixed to the chassis part spaced apart along the longitu dinal axis of the vehicle and the hollow conical guide members are spaced apart by the same' distance as the spigots along the longitudinal axis of the body part.
4. 4. - -A load-carrying' vehicle.according to - -any preceding claim wherein the lifting means comprises a first pair of hydraulic rams coupled to a first lifting beam extend ing transversely of the chassis part near the

front of the body part, and a second pair of hydraulic rams coupled to second lifting beam extending transversely of the chassis part near the rear of the body part, whereby, in use, by extending both pairs of rams both lifting beams are raised to lift the body part.
5. A load-carrying vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein locks are provided on the chassis part for engaging the body part to lock the body part to the chassis part in the use position.
6. A load-carrying vehicle according to claim 5 wherein the locks are twist locks for engaging locking plates fixed to the body part.
7. A load-carrying vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.