GB2360755A

GB2360755A - Vehicle loading/unloading conveyer

Info

Publication number: GB2360755A
Application number: GB0004746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Philip Whitney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-01
Filing date: 2000-03-01
Publication date: 2001-10-03
Also published as: GB0004746D0

Abstract

A vehicle loading/unloading conveyer comprises a trolley 6 running on rails 4, 5. The trolley has a lifting device and is arranged to extend partly outside the vehicle or container. Preferably pivoted supports (20, Figs 3-5) support the trolley outside the vehicle. The rails can be on the ceiling, floor or sides of the vehicle.

Description

2360755 CONVEYOR MEANS The present invention relates to conveyor means for

objects contained in a vehicle container.

A number of existing vehicle containers that are used to transport goods are fitted with an hydraulic platform. The hydraulic platform is located adjacent the container floor at the entrance to the container. Goods from the container are manually placed on the platform. The platform and the goods are both lowered to ground level where the goods are removed from the platform. An alternative method for removing goods from a vehicle container is to use a forklift truck. In both of these examples the goods have to be manually moved from within the container to the entrance of the container. The goods are then lowered by mechanical landing equipment or moved manually.

According to the present invention there is provided conveyor means for a vehicle container, the conveyor means comprises a movable trolley that is supported by runner means disposed within the vehicle container, the arrangement being such that in use the conveyor means is operable to move an object within the vehicle container.

The term 'vehicle container' used herein includes a lorry trailer or any type of compartment of a lorry, truck or van that is designed to carry goods.

The term 'runner means' used herein includes any suitable type of load carrying guide such as, but not limited to, a track, a rail, a belt or a row of rollers.

2 Preferably, the conveyor means comprises lifting means operable to move objects in a vertical direction.

The trolley is preferably disposed near the ceiling of the vehicle container. The runner means is preferably disposed near the ceiling of 5 the vehicle container.

Alternatively, the trolley and the runner means are disposed adjacent one of the sides of the vehicle container.

Preferably, the trolley is movable along the runner means such that a portion of the trolley extends outside the vehicle container.

The movable trolley preferably comprises a framework that supports the lifting means.

The conveying means preferably comprises a structure located at an entrance of the vehicle container, the arrangement being such that in use the structure provides support to the portion of the framework that 15 extends outside the entrance of the vehicle container.

The structure located at an entrance of the vehicle container is preferably pivotable from a first position located within the vehicle container to a second position located outside the vehicle.

Preferably, the runner means comprises a pair of tracks.

The conveyor means preferably comprises a pair of structures at the entrance of the vehicle container each structure being pivotable from a first position located within the vehicle container to a second position located outside the vehicle, the arrangement being such that in use the 3 pair of structures provide support to the portion of the framework that extends outside the entrance of the vehicle container.

Preferably, at least one of the pair of structures at the opening of the vehicle container acts as a travel stop for the trolley when said structure is in the first position, the arrangement being such that in use the trolley is prevented from moving past a particular point on the runner means.

The tracks may be secured to the structure of the vehicle container or alternatively the tracks may be free-standing on the floor of the vehicle container.

Preferably, the tracks extend along the length of the vehicle container.

Alternatively, the tracks extend along the width of the vehicle container.

In an embodiment of the present invention a set of tracks extends along the length of the vehicle container and a set of tracks extends along the width of the vehicle container.

In an embodiment of the present invention the trolley comprises a primary frame that is movable along the runner means and a secondary frame that is movable within the primary frame.

The secondary frame allows the objects to be more precisely orientated.

The present invention may be used for a vehicle container on any 20 application where an object or load is to be moved from an above ground level floor to a lower level or a higher level.

4 The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but three embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a conveying assembly for a vehicle trailer; Figure 2 is plan view of the conveying assembly and vehicle trailer shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a conveying assembly for a vehicle trailer and shows a pair of pivotable support frames positioned inside the trailer; Figure 4 is an isometric view of the conveying assembly shown in Figure 3 and shows the pair of pivotable support frames positioned outside the trailer; and Figure 5 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a is conveying assembly for a vehicle trailer and shows a vertically mounted trolley and a pivotable support frame positioned outside the trailer.

Referring to the Figures 1 and 2, a conveyor means 1 for a vehicle trailer 2 comprises a pair of parallel support tracks 4, 5 and a trolley 6 that is movable along the tracks 4, 5. Figures 1 and 2 show the trolley 6 positioned in a first location inside the trailer and in a second location wherein a portion of the trolley 6 extends outside the trailer 2.

The conveyor means 1 is used to load and unload goods from the vehicle trailer 2.

The trolley 6 runs horizontally along the tracks 4, 5 above the goods 12 contained in the trailer 2. The trolley 6 comprises suitable roller bearing means (not shown in the Figures) that is in rolling contact with the tracks 4, 5. The trolley 6 also comprises a suitable lifting device (not shown) 5 for example an electrical lift motor or a block and tackle.

The trolley 6 comprises a substantially square frame 8 and a parallel central cross-member 10. In an embodiment of the present invention the frame 8 comprises a second trolley (not shown) movably attached to the frame 8. The second trolley may extend across from one member of the square frame 8 to the cross-member 10 and may support a lifting device. The second trolley may be movable in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the trolley 6 moves. The second trolley allows the objects to be more precisely positioned within the trailer 2.

The tracks 4, 5 extend along the length of the trailer 2 and are secured adjacent to the respective uppermost corners of the inside of the trailer 2. The tracks 4, 5 may be attached to the sides of the trailer 2 or the ceiling of the trailer 2. The tracks 4, 5 are provided with six additional vertical support struts 15. The support struts 15 provide strengthening for the tracks 4, 5 so that they can carry heavier loads. The requirement of the 20 additional struts 15 will depend upon the mass of the load and the strength of the vehicle container. It will be appreciated that the particular specification of the conveyor means design can be adapted to suit different types of vehicle trailer and different types of goods. The tracks 4, 5 can be provided with a suitable 25 support framework that is secured to the trailer. Alternatively, the tracks 4, 5 and the support framework can be free-standing inside the trailer 2. The conveyor means can be fitted to any type of vehicle container such as the compartment of a truck or van that carries goods. The conveyor 6 means can adapted for a side loading vehicle container such as brewery vehicle and may include the means to lower the goods from either side of the vehicle container. It will be appreciated that the conveyor means can be adapted such that the goods can be lowered from any location on the 5 vehicle container.

In use the trolley 6 is pushed along the tracks 4, 5 until the trolley 6 is positioned above an object contained in the trailer 2. The object is then attached to the lifting device and it is lifted up using the lifting device and is suspended from the lifting device. The trolley 6, lifting device and the object are then moved to the rear of the trailer 2 until a portion of the trolley 6 and the suspended object are disposed outside the trailer 2. The portion of the trolley 6 that remains within the trailer 2, and in contact with the tracks 4, 5, takes the combined weight of both the trolley 6 and the suspended object. The object is then lowered to the ground by the lifting device and unattached from the lifting device. The portion of the trolley 6 that extends outside of the trailer 2 is equivalent to the area or size of the object being lowered.

This operation can be repeated until all of the goods 12 are unloaded from the trailer 2. It will be appreciated that the operation can be carried out in reverse in order to fill the trailer 2 with goods.

The goods can be lifted by pallet attachments, eyelets on a frame container or straps placed around the individual goods.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a pair of additional supports 20, 21 for the conveying means. Each support 20, 21 comprises a triangular frame that is pivotally mounted to a sidewall of the trailer 2 adjacent the entrance of the trailer 2. Each support 20, 21 comprises an 7 upper pivot fixture 24 and a lower pivot fixture 26. The fixtures 24, 26 are attached to the respective vertical members of the supports 20, 21.

In use each of the supports 20, 21 is initially located in a first position within the trailer 2 and adjacent a sidewall of the trailer 2 (see Figure 3).

When the supports 20, 21 are in the first position the uppermost members of the respective supports 20, 21 act as a travel stop for the trolley 2. The supports 20, 21 prevent the trolley 6 from extending too much outside the trailer 2. When the supports 20, 21 are in a second position outside the trailer 2 (see Figure 4) they provide additional support to the portion of the trolley 6 that extends outside the trailer 2 and any object that is suspended from the trolley 6. The conveyor means is designed such that the pivot fixtures 24, 26 and the supports 20, 21 in the second position do not obstruct the movement of the trolley 2 along the tracks 4, 5.

With reference to Figure 5, there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention. A conveyor means 30 for a vehicle trailer 2 comprises a pair of parallel support tracks 32, 34 and a vertical trolley 36 that is movable along the tracks 32, 34. In this embodiment the trolley 36 comprises a pair of horizontal members 38, 40 and a tie rod 42. The rod 42 extends vertically from one end of the uppermost member 38 to the corresponding end of the lowermost member 40. The support track 32 is secured adjacent to an uppermost corner of the trailer 2 and the support track 34 is secured adjacent a corner of the trailer 2 directly below the track 32. A cantilever arm (not shown) is attached to the trolley 36. The cantilever arm can also comprise a suitable lifting device (not shown). In use the trolley 36 is moved along the tracks 32, 34 until the cantilever arm is over an object within the trailer 2. The lifting device is then attached to the object and the object is lifted into the air.

8 The trolley 36 and the object are then moved along the tracks 32, 34 in a direction towards an entrance of the trailer 2. When a portion of the trolley 36 and the object are outside the trailer 2 the object is lowered to the ground.

An advantage of the present invention is that the conveyor means remains in the vehicle trailer and travels with the goods being carried.

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Claims

1. A Conveyor Means for a vehicle container comprising of a moveable trolley that is supported by runner means disposed within the vehicle container, the arrangement being such that in use the conveyor means is operable to move an object within the vehicle container. The Conveyor Means or Trolley is moveable along the runners such that a portion of the Trolley extends outside of the vehicle container. The Conveyor Means comprising of the moveable Trolley when clear of the vehicle container is operable to raise from or lower to, an object, to or from ground level, to a sufficient height to allow the object to be brought to rest inside of the vehicle container or to set the object down at floor level.

2. The moveable Trolley as claimed in Claim 1 preferably comprises of a framework that supports the lifting means.

3. The Trolley along with the lifting means as in Claims 1 and 2 preferably disposed near the ceiling of the vehicle container.

4. The Conveying Means preferably comprises of a pair of support structures to the portion of the framework that extends outside the entrance of the vehicle container described herein with references to Figures 3-4 of the accompanying drawing. The structure located at the entrance is preferably pivotable from a first position located within the vehicle container to a second position located outside the vehicle. The pair of structures provides support for the trolley as it extends outside the entrance of the vehicle container.

5. The runner means as claimed in Claim 1 comprising of a pair of tracks.

6. Preferably at least one pair of structures as Claimed in Claim 4 incorporating an arrangement being such that in use the Trolley is prevented from moving past a certain point on the runner means.

7. The runners as claimed in Claim 1 may be secured to the structure of the vehicle container or alternatively may be free standing on the floor of the vehicle. Preferably the runners may extend along the length of the vehicle container.

8. The Trolley as claimed in Claim 1 to 3 may comprise of a primary frame that is moveable along the runner means and a secondary frame that is moveable within the primary frame. The secondary frame allows the objects to be more precisely orientated.

9. The Trolley it's runners and supports as described in Claims 1, 2, 4,5, 6,7 & 8 may be mounted either horizontally or vertically, Figure 5, within the vehicle container. Mounted vertically the Trolley might comprise of alternative means of transporting the object.