GB2154184A - Transport container especially for livestock - Google Patents

Abstract

The body 18 of the vehicle includes a floor, shallow sidewalls 42, columns 26 to 36 and roof 28, and encloses first or lower deck structure 20 which can be raised and lowered by hauling on and relaxing of cables 56, 58, 60 and an upper deck structure 22. For loading, the deck 22 will be lowered on to the floor of the lower deck 20, the latter resting on the floor of the vehicle body. Hinged tailgates 34, 80 and 86 can then be swung down to form a ramp for loading upper deck 22. When loaded, tailgate 86 is closed and both deck structures 20 and 22 are raised until latches on the upper structure 22 can be engaged into apertures 94 in the columns 26 to 32. Then the deck 20 is lowered again for loading, whereafter its tailgate 80 is closed and it is raised to a position in which its latches can engage into corresponding apertures 94. Finally the space beneath the deck structure 20 is loaded, and the tailgate 34 is closed. Partitions 88, 90, 92 may be used to subdivide the three leading levels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transport container, especially for livestock This invention concerns transport containers, more especially, but not exclusively, for use in the trans portation of livestock, such as fowl, pigs, cattle, sheep and other animals.

It is already known to provide, for use in cattle and like trucks, bow-like containers for receiving small livestock, these being removable from the truck, if desired, so that the latter is free for use for other purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction of container, suitable for use on, or as a component of, a cattle or like wagon, which will accommodate considerably more animals, without crowding or discomfort thereto, than has hitherto been possible.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a transport container, for use on, or as a component of, a livestock-carrying or like wagon, for accommodating livestock, small animals or the like, characterised in that it comprises a basic rec tangular receptacle within which are accommo dated a first deck structure which includes a floor and is displaceable between a lowered position resting upon the bottom of the receptacle, and a raised position disposed at a level above said floor suitable for small animals, livestock or other load to be accommodated therebetween, and a second deck structure which includes a respective floor which is displaceable between a lowered position resting upon the floor of the first deck structure and a respective raised position which is disposed at a respective level above the raised position of the first deck structure, so that further animals, livestock or load may be accommodated both on the second deck structure and in the space between the latter and the first deck structure.

For facilitating the raising and lowering of the two deck structures, the receptacle is conveniently provided with hoisting members, such as chains or cables, which are connected to the first deck struc ture, these members being guided over guide members, such as sprockets or pulleys, to actuat ing means, such as a hydraulic ram or electric mo tor, which may be disposed beneath the floor of the first deck structure for raising and lowering the deck structures.

To ensure that the deck structures are securely retained in their respective raised positions, these may each carry respective retaining catches or de tents which, when the respective deck structures are raised, engage automatically into respective apertures in uprights at the sides of the receptacle so as to prevent lowering thereof unless positively displaced to inoperative positions, e.g. against the action of gravity. These catches may be in the form of pivoted J-shaped hooks which are simply de flected upon raising of the respective deck struc tures.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative and not restrictive, of the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the preferred embodiment of the transport container of the invention, being constituted by the body of a motor wagon, this being shown with its deck structures in their raised dispositions:: Figure 2 is a diagrammatic underneath view, to a reduced scale, illustrating the construction of the first or powered deck structure thereof; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary part-sectional detail illustrating the engagement of a catch or detent of one of the deck structures of the container of Figures 1 and 2 into its respective opening for holding the said deck structure in its raised position; Figure 4 is a view comparable with Figure 3, but illustrating engagement of the catch or detent with, or disengagement of said catch or detent from, its opening; Figure 5 is a side elevation, to a reduced scale relative to Figure 1, showing the wagon of Figures 1 to 4 in its condition ready for loading; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing how the second deck structure is brought to its raised position after loading; and Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures 5 and 6 but showing the first deck structure in its position ready for loading.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of the transport container of the invention is, as will be evident, constructed as the body, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 of a motor wagon having a driver's cab 12 and supported on road wheels 14, 16 of which the wheels 16 are steerable.

The body is generally constructed of metal plate and/or sections and comprises essential three components namely a basic outer receptacle 18, and two inner deck structures 20 and 22.

The basic outer receptacle 18 is generally rectangular in configuration when considered in plan and has a floor (not visible in the figures) supported upon a plurality of longitudinal chassis members of which an outer member is visible and is indicated by the reference numeral 24. Upstanding box-sectional columns 26, 28, 30, 32 spaced along the longitudinal sides of the receptacle 18 serve, in conjunction with rear corner posts 34 and front corner posts 36, to support a roof 38 of the body.

A fixed front wall (not visible) is provided between the front corner posts 36, and a tailgate 40, swingable about a horizontal axis provided by hinges (not visible) along the rear edge of the floor, is provided for enabling the rear of the receptacle 18 to be closed or opened as required. Sheet metal sidwalls 42, of height approximating to about 20% of the height of the columns 26 to 32 and posts 34, 36, are provided along each longitudinal side of the receptacle 18, being secured, e.g. by welding, to these columns and posts.

The inner deck structure 20 is a first deck structure and is rectangular in configuration (as will be evident from Figure 2 of the drawings) and is of length and width just slightly less than the corre sponding dimensions of the outer receptacle 18 so that it can be raised and lowered whilst within such receptacle 18. The deck structure 20 comprises a floor 44 of metal plate having a box-section reinforcing girder 46 extending from end to end thereof, along its middle. This box-section girder 46 accommodates an actuating ram 48 comprising a fixed cylinder 50 having a ram 52 extensible and retractable in the front-to-rear direction of the body. The outer or free end of the ram 52 has thereon an H-shaped anchorage 54 to each of the limbs of which are connected three hauling cables 56, 58, 60.Guide pulleys 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 for these cables are provided symmetrically at each side of the longitudinal centre line of the floor 44, respectively at the front end of the girder 46, at the outer side of the front of the deck structure 20 and at equispaced locations along the side edges of the floor 44.

At each side of the structure 20, all three cables 56, 58 and 60 extend around the corresponding pulleys 62 and 64 and up to the pulley 66. At the latter, the cable 56 is deflected (see particularly Figure 1) and extends substantially vertically to an anchorage 72 on the side of the roof 28. The cable 58 continues to the pulley 58 where it deflects and extends substantially vertically to its anchorage 74, and the cable 60 continues to the pulley 70 where it deflects and extends up to its anchorage 76.

Sidewalls 78 of height approximately equal to the height of the walls 42 extend along the sides of the floor 44 of the deck structure 20. At its front end, the structure has a fixed front wall (not visible in the drawings) and at its rear end it has a respective tailgate 80 pivoted at the girder 46, as will be appreciated from Figure 6, to be swingable between a hung-down position as shown in the latter figure, and an upright deck-closing position as shown in Figure 1.

it will be appreciated that when the piston 52 of the ram 48 is withdrawn into the cylinder 50, the first deck structure 20 is in a lowered condition as shown in Figures 5 and 7; conversely, when the piston 52 is extended, it can haui the deck structure 20 up to a fully elevated position as shown in Figure 6.

The second inner deck structure 22, in turn, is of rectangular configuration in plan and slightly smaller in its length and width than the corresponding dimensions of the first deck structure 20.

It comprises a plate floor 82 with sidewalls 84 slightly shorter in height than the walls 42 and 78, fixed front wall 84 and respective hinged tailgate 86.

The outer receptacle 18, and each of the inner deck structures 20 and 22 has respective removable partitions 88, 90 and 92 for dividing them up into compartments if desired, any suitable means being provided for releasably locating these partitions in place.

Provided in the columns 26, 28, 30 and 32 at about one-third and about two-thirds of the way up the height thereof are apertures 94 one of which is shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4, and the bottom edges of which are reinforced by strengthening bars 96. Provided in respective recesses in the sidewalls 78 and 84 of the decks 20 and 22 are corresponding pivoted hook-like detents or catches 98 provided with respective handles 100 whereby they can each be swung between an operative position, shown in Figure 3, projecting into the respective aperture 94 and an inoperative position, shown in Figure 4, withdrawn from such aperture.

The mode of use of the transport container will readily be understood from the foregoing description and consideration of the drawings.

Assuming the vehicle to be empty and required to be loaded, for instance with livestock such as pigs, the two inner decks 20 and 22 will be in their lowered conditions as shown in Figure 5, the girder 46 of the first deck 20 resting on the floor of the basic outer receptacle 18, and the second deck 22 resting by its floor 82 on the floor of the first deck 20. In this condition, the three tailgates 40, 80 and 86 are all swung down as shown in Figure 5, and removable side fences 102 may be fitted to the tailgate 40 to direct livestock into the interior of the vehicle. A first batch of the livestock can then be driven into the second deck structure 22, if desired, with the occasional installation of the partitions 92 to divide such batch up into groups. Upon completion of the loading of this deck structure 22, the tailgate 86 is closed.Thereupon, the ram 48 is actuated to extend the piston 52. This may be effected, for instance, pneumatically or hydraulically from an appropriate pumping mechanism (not shown) driven from the wagon's engine or from its own individual motor. The extension of the ram 48 serves to haul the first deck structure 20 upwards, carrying the second deck structure 22 with it, this continuing until the maximum elevation is achieved, substantially as illustrated in Figure 6.

This condition having been achieved, the detents or latches 98 of the second deck structure 22 are moved (or are permitted to move by reason of gravity acting on their handles 100) to project into their apertures 94.

The ram 48 is now relaxed to permit the piston 52 to withdraw under the weight of the first deck structure 20 which, accordingly, descends controlledly, leaving the second deck structure 22 retained in its elevated position, until the structure 20 has returned ot its lowered position resting on the floor of the basic receptacle 18, as is illustrated in Figure 7.

A second batch of livestock can now be driven into the first deck structure 20 by way of the ramps provided by the two tailgates 40 and 80, the partitions 90 being installed as may be desired to divide this batch into groups. Upon completion of this loading, the tailgate 80 is swung up to its closed upright position, whereupon the ram 48 is actuated once again. This time, however, the piston 52 is extended only sufficiently to lift the first deck structure 20 to a height at which the detents or latches of such structure 20 can be projected into the respective apertures 49. Upon relaxation of the ram 48 now, the first deck structure 20 is retained in its respective elevated position, approximately midway up the height of the body of the wagon, which is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

As a final stage of the loading procedure, a final batch of the livestock is driven into the basic receptacle 18, beneath the first deck structure 20, by way of the ramp provided by the inclined tailgate 40 which is eventually swung up to the closed position shown in Figure 1 after removal of the fences 102.

It will be appreciated that with the arrangement of the invention, the useful capacity of the interior space of the body of the wagon is significantly improved as compared with the conventional traditional structures in which a single fixed high level deck is provided within a wagon body. Moreover, the actual operation of loading is facilitated, since the livestock has to ascend only the relatively gently-sloped ramps provided by the tailgates when entering any of the deck structures of the vehicle, which presents very little difficulty in comparison with the very steep ramp needed for a fixed high level deck structure.

Of course, unloading of the loaded wagon takes place in the reverse sequence to the loading above described, with the space beneath the first deck 20 firstly being unloaded. Then the first deck 20 is lowered for unloading, whereafter such deck is raised to the Figure 6 position to raise the second deck 22 slightly to enable its detents or latches 98 to be disengaged and both the first and second deck structure to be lowered for the second deck structure 22 to be unloaded.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing examples and variations may be made thereto. For instance, the raising and lowering of the deck structures 20 and 22 could be effected, for example, by vertically disposed rams or jacks, screw mechanisms, or other suitable arrangements, and of course the arrangement does not have to be such that the first deck structure is used to raise and lower the second such structure.

In other words, each of the deck structures 20, 22 may have its own raising and lowering mechanism.

Claims (8)

1. A transport container, for use on, or as a component of, a livestock-carrying or like wagon, for accommodating livestock, small animals or the like, characterised in that it comprises a basic rectangular receptacle within which are accommodated a first deck structure which includes a floor and is displaceable between a lowered position resting upon the bottom of the receptacle, and a raised position disposed at a level above said floor suitable for small animals, livestock or other load to be accommodated therebetween, and a second deck structure which includes a respective floor panel which is displaceable between a lowered position resting upon the floor of the first deck structure and a respective raised position which is disposed at a respective level above the raised position of the first deck structure, so that further animals, livestock or load may be accommodated both on the second deck structure and in the space between the latter and the first deck structure.

2. A transport container as claimed in claim 1 wherein hoisting members are connected to the first deck structure and are connected to actuating means whereby said first deck structure may be raised and lowered for displacing both itself and the second deck structure.

3. A transport container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the actuating means is disposed beneath the floor of the first deck structure.

4. A transport container as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the actuating means comprises a hydraulic ram and the hoisting members are cables adapted to be hauled and relaxed by the ram for raising and lowering the first deck structure.

5. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two decks each have respective latches or detents for engaging into respective apertures in columns provided by the basic receptacle, to retain said decks in their respective raised dispositions.

6. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the basic receptacle and the two deck structures each have tailgates which can be swung down to form loading ramps.

7. A transport container as claimed in any preceding claim which forms the body or part of the body of a motor vehicle.

8. A transport container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.