GB843682A - Improvements in or relating to freight handling and transporting system - Google Patents

Abstract

843,682. Securing removable freight containers to vehicles. CLARK EQUIPMENT CO. Aug. 23, 1956 [Aug. 30, 1955; April 9, 1956], No. 25758/56. Classes 78 (3) and 78 (4). [Also in Group XXV] Latches securing are movable body to the chassis of a vehicle and automatically released by means operated by a part of a load-handling device, e.g. a fork truck, a straddle truck or a lifting sling, disposed to lift the body from the vehicle are such that the operator can see whether the latches are engaged. In the construction shown in bottom plan in Fig. 2, latching pins 60 urged outwardly by a spring 64 to engage sockets on the chassis are withdrawn by a bell-crank 44, 50 and a linkage 53, 54 when one of the tines 42 of a lift-truck pushes aside a portion 49 of the bell-crank disposed in one of the tunnels 41 for receiving the tines. The latching-pins 60 are also withdrawn when a straddle truck is caused to depress pins 66 carried by a yoke 65 on one of the arms 51 carrying a latching-pin 60. The pins 60 automatically engage the sockets when the body is lowered on to the chassis. In an alternative construction pins similarly disposed to the pins 66 can be engaged by the rear of the lifting carriage of a fork truck so that no mechanism need be disposed for engagement by the tines. The fork truck may be constructed as described in Specification 843,758, which is referred to. Where a container is to be lifted by a crane one of the eyes 140 (Fig. 19) for connection to the lifting sling carries a sliding portion 141 which is raised by the hook engaging it, before the weight of the body is taken by the sling, so pulling a cable 147 lead over pulleys such as 149 on the sides and base of the container to retract latching-pins 157 disposed one at each end of the container. The sockets 80 (Fig. 4) on the chassis for receiving the latching pins may be formed in castings 68 pivoted about axles 68a to retract either inwardly or outwardly to lie flush with the floor of the chassis. A cover 78 (Fig. 5) pivoted at 79 may serve to cover the casting 68 when it is retracted and to abut its lower portion to retain it in the position shown. A slot in the plate 78 permits a hook to be inserted in the hole 80 so that the casting 68 may be raised, raising the plate 78 with it, until the plate 78 falls to the position shown. The casting 80 is formed with an inclined inner surface engaging a member 81 on the container and may have the wedge form shown in Fig. 4 or the more complicated shape shown in Fig. 13, which also shows a pair of latching-pins 110 entering the spaces 112, left between the casting 114 and the co-operating pocket 111 on the body. Resilient bushings may be provided between the latching-pins 60 (Fig. 5) and the sleeves. 82 guiding them, and the sockets 81 may be replaced by bearing-surfaces supported resiliently from the body. Two castings such as 68 may be pivoted at opposite ends of a channel adapted to replace one of the floor planks of the chassis. Specification 843,683 also is referred to.