WO2010042975A1

WO2010042975A1 - Loading of wheeled vehicles in a container

Info

Publication number: WO2010042975A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/001340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert William Alistair Strang
Original assignee: A.R.C. Strang Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-17
Filing date: 2009-10-09
Publication date: 2010-04-22

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of loading wheeled vehicles in a container, each vehicle having longitudinally spaced pairs of ground engaging wheels, the wheels in each pair being arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle, the method including: moving a first vehicle on its own wheels into the container through an open end of the container; arranging a pair of supports in the container such that a rearward end portion of the first vehicle is located between forward ends of the supports; and moving a second vehicle on its own wheels into the container through the open end and onto the supports such that its forward wheels, having a lateral spacing exceeding the width of the rearward end portion of the first vehicle, are supported on the forward ends of the supports, whereby a forward end portion of the second vehicle is arranged above the rearward end portion of the first vehicle.

Description

Loading of wheeled vehicles in a container

The present invention relates to loading wheeled vehicles into containers for freighting, and also to associated components. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to loading of vehicles into shipping containers.

In recent years, the use of shipping containers, particularly 40-foot shipping containers, for freighting vehicles, such as automobiles, has become increasingly popular. The vehicles, provided they are adequately secured within the containers, are afforded comparatively high protection from damage during shipping because they are fully enclosed by the robust steel walls of the container. Moreover, stowing vehicles in standard shipping containers renders them suitable for handling by any port facility which loads and unloads shipping containers, without necessitating additional infrastructure such as that required for "roll-on, roll-off ("RORO") ships or ferries, as have been traditionally used for freighting cars. This not only provides a large number of choices of ports of origin and destination but also allows for timely shipping of a small number of vehicles, eliminating the need for a full payload quantity to accumulate before the vehicles can leave port, as is often necessary in RORO shipping applications.

To enable cars to be loaded into, and removed from, shipping containers, special frames or "cassettes" which hold the cars have been devised. Typically, each frame or cassette when loaded with one or more cars, is loaded into or removed from a respective container using dedicated loading equipment/vehicles, such as forklift vehicles. Such frames can be complex in their construction and relatively difficult to handle, giving rise to expense and delay, as well as increased risks of damage to the vehicles being shipped.

An improved way of stowing vehicles in a shipping container is thus desirable.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of loading wheeled vehicles in a container, each vehicle having longitudinally spaced pairs of ground-engaging wheels, the wheels in each pair being arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle, the method including: (1) moving a first vehicle on its own wheels into the container through an open end of the container;

(2) arranging a pair of supports in the container such that a rearward end portion of the first vehicle is located between forward ends of the supports; and

(3) moving a second vehicle on its own wheels into the container through the open end and onto the supports such that its forward wheels, having a lateral spacing exceeding the width of the rearward end portion of the first vehicle, are supported on the forward ends of the supports, whereby a forward end portion of the second vehicle is arranged above the rearward end portion of the first vehicle.

It is to be understood that the terms "forward" and "rearward" are used in the context of the direction in which the vehicles are loaded, rather than in the context of the front and rear of the vehicle as considered in its normal condition of use. Accordingly, the "forward end portion" or "forward wheels" of a given vehicle inside the container will be further from the open end of the container than the "rearward end portion" or "rearward wheels" of that vehicle. Moreover, the "forward end" of a given support inside the container will be further from the open end of the container than the "rearward end" of that support.

It is also to be understood that the "first vehicle" could possibly be a vehicle which is moved into the container after another vehicle has already been moved into the container; the first vehicle, whilst being moved into the container before the second vehicle, need not be a forwardmost vehicle in the container.

It is to be understood that the term "vehicle" as used herein is to be interpreted broadly, and may refer to any contrivance which transports, moves or carries people, objects and/or substances.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes temporarily increasing the lateral spacing of the forward wheels of the second vehicle such that that spacing exceeds the width of the rearward end portion of the first vehicle. Preferably, the lateral spacing is increased by inserting/mounting a temporary spacer between at least one, and more preferably each, of the forward wheels of the second vehicle and a hub or other mounting thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one ramp is arranged at rearward ends of the supports and the second vehicle is moved on its own wheels up the ramp(s) onto the supports. Preferably respective ramps are arranged at said rearward ends, each of which may be formed separately from, or integrally with, the respective support. Preferably, the or each ramp is formed from substantially rigid expanded plastics foam. Preferably, the or each ramp is formed from polystyrene.

Preferably, the supports are arranged to engage the rearward end portion of the first vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto. Preferably, the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to a longitudinal and lateral axis of the container, the faces being arranged to engage the rearward end portion.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, an inflatable supportive bag is arranged beneath the second vehicle when supported on the supports and inflated such that it engages the underside of the second vehicle to support a proportion of the weight of the second vehicle.

Preferably, the supports are arranged such that the rearward wheels of the second vehicle are supported on rearward ends of the supports, and the method further comprises:

(4) moving a third vehicle on its own wheels into the container through the open end such that a forward end portion of the third vehicle, which portion has a width less than the lateral spacing of the rearward wheels of the second vehicle, is located between the rear ends of the supports, whereby the forward end portion of the third vehicle is arranged below a rearward end portion of the second vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes temporarily increasing the lateral spacing of the rearward wheels of the second vehicle such that that spacing exceeds the width of the forward end portion of the third vehicle. Preferably, that lateral spacing is increased by mounting a temporary spacer between at least one, and more preferably each, of the rearward wheels of the second vehicle and a hub or other mounting thereof. Preferably, the supports are arranged to engage the forward end portion of the third vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto. Preferably, the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to longitudinal and lateral axes of the container, the faces being arranged to engage the forward end portion of the third vehicle. Preferably, those faces cooperate with the faces which engage the rearward end of the first vehicle to lock the supports axially between the first and third vehicles.

Preferably, the method further comprises providing lateral support to the second vehicle in the container. The lateral support may include support provided by contact between wheels of the second vehicle and side walls of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises:

(5) arranging a pair of further supports in the container such that a rearward end portion of the third vehicle is located between forward ends of the further supports; and

(6) moving a fourth vehicle on its own wheels into the container through the open end and onto the further supports such its forward wheels, which forward wheels have a lateral spacing exceeding the width of the rearward end portion of the third vehicle, are supported on the forward end portions of the further supports, whereby a forward end portion of the fourth vehicle is arranged above the rearward end portion of the third vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one ramp is arranged at rearward ends of the further supports and the fourth vehicle is moved on its own wheels up the ramp(s) onto the further supports. Preferably respective ramps are arranged at rearward ends of the further supports, each of which may be formed separately from, or integrally with, the respective further support. Preferably, the or each ramp is formed from substantially rigid expanded plastics foam. Preferably, the or each ramp is formed from polystyrene.

An inflatable supportive bag may be arranged beneath the fourth vehicle when supported on the supports and inflated such that it engages the underside of the fourth vehicle to provide upward support thereto. Preferably, the further supports are arranged to be axially supported from the rearward end of the container and are configured to engage the rearward end portion of the third vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto. Preferably, the further supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to longitudinal and lateral axes of the container, the faces being arranged to engage opposite sides of the rearward end portion of the third vehicle. Preferably, those faces cooperate with the faces on said supports which engage the forward end portion of the third vehicle to restrain the third vehicle axially between the pair of supports and the further pair of supports.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes temporarily increasing the lateral spacing of the forward wheels of the fourth vehicle such that that spacing exceeds the width of the rearward end portion of the third vehicle. Preferably, that lateral spacing is increased by mounting a temporary spacer between at least one, and more preferably each, of the forward wheels of the fourth vehicle and a hub or other mounting thereof.

Preferably, the further supports are arranged such that the rearward wheels of the fourth vehicle are supported on rearward ends of the further supports.

Preferably, the method further comprises providing lateral support to the fourth vehicle in the container. The lateral support may include support provided by contact between wheels of the fourth vehicle and side walls of the container.

Preferably the supports and/or further supports are arranged such that laterally outer sides thereof engage side walls of the container to be laterally supported thereby.

Preferably, a respective supportive element is arranged between the second vehicle and/or fourth vehicle and a ceiling of the container to restrain the vehicle(s) from upward displacement relative to the container.

Preferably, the container is a shipping container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is a 40-foot shipping container. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the container may be a 20-foot shipping container. Preferably, the wheels of the vehicles include powered wheels, and the vehicles are moved into the container and onto or between the supports under their own locomotion.

Preferably, at least one of the pairs of wheels of each vehicle is steerable and is steered to facilitate loading of the vehicle in the container.

Preferably, the vehicles are driveable and are driven into the container and onto or between the supports.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicles are automobiles.

Preferably, the supports are formed from substantially rigid expanded plastics foam. Preferably, the supports are formed from polystyrene.

Preferably, the supports are freestanding.

Preferably, each support is a single piece.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having therein a plurality of vehicles loaded by way of the method described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having packed therein a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle having longitudinally spaced pairs of ground-engaging wheels, the wheels in each pair being arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle, wherein:

a first vehicle is supported on a floor of the container on its own wheels;

a pair of supports is arranged such that an end portion of the first vehicle is located between first ends of the supports; and

the wheels of one pair of wheels of a second vehicle are supported on the first ends of the supports, those wheels ("the supported wheels") having a lateral spacing which exceeds the width of the said end portion of the first vehicle, whereby a first end portion of the second vehicle is arranged above the said end portion of the first vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral spacing of the supported wheels is increased by way of a temporary spacer between at least one, and more preferably each, of the supported wheels and a hub or other mounting thereof.

Preferably, the supports are positioned to engage the said end portion of the first vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto. Preferably, the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to a longitudinal and lateral axis of the container, the faces being positioned to engage opposite sides of the said end portion of the first vehicle.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, an inflatable supportive bag is arranged beneath the second vehicle and inflated such that it engages the underside of the second vehicle to provide upward support thereto.

Preferably, the wheels of the other pair of wheels of the second vehicle are supported on second ends of the supports. Preferably, a third vehicle is supported on the floor on its own wheels, the third vehicle having a first end portion which has a width less than the lateral spacing of the wheels of said other pair ("the further supported wheels") and which is located between said second ends, whereby the first end portion of the third vehicle is arranged below a second end portion of the second vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral spacing of the further supported wheels is increased by way of a temporary spacer between at least one, and more preferably each, of the further supported wheels and a hub or other mounting thereof.

Preferably, the supports are positioned to engage the first end portion of the third vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto. Preferably, the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to the longitudinal and lateral axes of the container, the faces being positioned to engage opposite sides of the first end portion of the third vehicle. Preferably, those faces cooperate with the faces which engage the end portion of the first vehicle to lock the supports axially between the first and third vehicles.

Preferably, lateral support is provided to the second vehicle in the container. The lateral support may include support provided by contact between wheels of the second vehicle and side walls of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of further supports is arranged in the container such that a second end portion of the third vehicle is located between ends of the further supports, and the wheels of one pair of wheels of a fourth vehicle are supported on the said ends of the further supports, those wheels having a lateral spacing which exceeds the width of the second end portion of the third vehicle, whereby an end portion of the fourth vehicle is arranged above the second end portion of the third vehicle.

Preferably, the wheels of the other pair of wheels of the fourth vehicle are supported on ends of the further supports which are opposite to the said ends of the further supports.

An inflatable supportive bag may be arranged beneath the fourth vehicle and inflated such that it engages the underside of the fourth vehicle to provide upward support thereto.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support and/or ramp for use in the method described above.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle wheel spacing device for use in the method described above, the device comprising:

a spacer receivable between the wheel and a mounting on the vehicle which ordinarily supports the wheel, the spacer having a first end receivable adjacent the mounting and a second end receivable adjacent the wheel; and

fastening means removably engageable at one end with the mounting and removably engageable at the other end with the wheel to effect clamping of the spacer between the wheel and the mounting.

Preferably, the fastening means is removably connectable at one end to mounting bolts on the mounting and removably connectable at the other end to the wheel through holes in the wheel at positions corresponding to those of the mounting bolts to effect clamping of the spacer between the wheel and the mounting.

Preferably, the fastening means is configured to engage the spacer to lock it rotationally with respect to the mounting. Preferably, the fastening means is configured to engage the spacer to lock it radially with respect to the mounting.

Preferably, the fastening means comprises a plurality of rods, one end of each rod being connectable to a respective one of said mounting bolts and the other end being receivable through a respective one of said holes. Preferably, the fastening means further includes a plurality of connector elements, each connector element having a first end configured for threaded engagement with a respective said mounting bolt and a second end being configured for fixed engagement with the one end of the respective rod. Preferably, connectors element are configured to be snugly received in the passages to rigidly lock the spacer to the mounting in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mounting. Preferably, each rod is formed with a thread at its other end to receive a wheel nut to fix it to the wheel.

Preferably, the spacer is formed with a plurality of circumferentially arranged passages each configured to receive a respective one of the rods therein. The passages may be formed on an exterior of the spacer and may, for example comprise channels defined by an outer surface of the spacer. Alternatively, the passages may be formed inside the spacer and may, for example, comprise bores through the spacer.

The spacer may be a single element or a plurality of elements arranged end-to-end.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the spacer of a wheel-spacing device of the fifth aspect.

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures IA to IE show the various stages of loading sedan vehicles into a shipping container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 A is a perspective view of a polystyrene support used for loading vehicles in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of a polystyrene ramp used in conjunction with the support shown in Figure 2A;

Figure 2C is a perspective view of a polystyrene chock used for laterally bracing vehicles in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3A is a perspective view of a spacer used to increase the separation of vehicle wheels in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3B is an end view of the spacer shown in Figure 3 A;

Figure 3 C is a perspective view showing an extension rod and associated sleeve used in conjunction with the spacer shown in Figure 3A and 3B;

Figures 4A to 4C show how the spacer is mounted against the hub of a vehicle wheel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5A shows exemplary spacers of varying length and optional associated extension pieces of varying length, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5B and 5C show how a spacer and extension pieces are combined to produce a composite spacer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure IA and further showing the use of a chock to provide lateral bracing to the sedan vehicle;

Figure 6a is a plan view of Detail A in Figure 6;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the chocked sedan vehicle shown in

Figure 6 with a pair of the polystyrene supports arranged at either side thereof;

Figure 7a is a plan view of Detail B in Figure 7;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7 further provided with polystyrene ramps arranged at ends of the supports and an inflatable dunnage bag arranged between the supports, corresponding to Figure IB;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a second sedan vehicle in the container, which vehicle is supported on the supports and braced by slings and a polystyrene pad;

Figure 9a is a plan view of Detail C in Figure 9;

Figure 9b is a plan view of Detailed D in Figure 9;

Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 9, illustrating the dunnage bag between the supports inflated to provide support to the second sedan from beneath;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the first and second sedans and a third sedan packed in the containers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figures 12A to 12E show the various stages of loading a utility vehicle into the container in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figures 13 A to 13E show the various stages of loading a sports utility vehicle into the container in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 14A to 14E show the various stages of loading a hatchback vehicle into the container in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

Shown in Figures IA to IE are the various stages of loading sedan vehicles into a shipping container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures IA, 6 and 6a, loading commences by reversing a first car 1 through an open end 3 of a conventional 40-foot shipping container 5 and parking it in the container such that a protective polystyrene strip 2 temporarily attached to its rear bumper contacts the wall at the opposite end 7 of the container 5. The vehicle 1, like each of the vehicles in all of the described embodiments, may be positioned in the container such that the rear edge of the driver door when opened is received in a corrugation in the container side wall, whereby it may be opened as much as possible to facilitate exit from the vehicle. Also, a protective polystyrene strip (not shown) may be fitted along the driver door edge (in each vehicle in all of the described embodiments) to protect it from damage by the container wall when it is opened.

A respective polystyrene chock 6 (see Figures 2C, 6 and 6a) is then driven between each rear wheel of the vehicle 1 and the respective inner side wall of the container 5. Each chock 6 is tapered so as to be downwardly convergent and thus generally wedge-shaped. The person parking the vehicle, who exits the vehicle out of the driver door, exits the container 5 through the open end 3. Likewise, the person locating the chocks 6 in position, who enters the container through the open end 3, also exits the container through that end.

The vehicle thus parked has its shorter (lower) end 9, in this case the bonnet end, facing the open end 3.

For ease of explanation, the term "rearward end" will refer to the end of a given item in the container 5 which is closer to the open end 3 whereas the term "forward end" will refer to the end of that item which is closer to the closed end 7.

Next, referring to Figures IB and 7, a pair of oblong supports 11 is arranged in the container 5, one either side of the car 1. A support 11 is illustrated in detail in Figure 2 A. The support 11 is a polystyrene block having a generally rectangular cross-section. The support 11 has a flat, straight upper surface 13 which in this embodiment is parallel with the base 15 of the support 11 so as to be level in the container 5. The support 11 is formed on one side with a laterally projecting central bracing portion 14, having tapered end walls 16, and on the other side with a flat, continuous side wall 18.

Both supports 11 are arranged such that the side walls 18 contact the inner side walls of the container 5 and the tapered faces 16 adjacent their forward ends contact the front of the vehicle 1, in particular the bumper of that vehicle (see Figures 7 and 7a). When the supports 11 are so arranged, their forward ends extend substantially throughout the length of the bonnet of vehicle 1. Because the faces 16 are tapered, lying oblique the longitudinal and lateral axis of the container 5, they brace the vehicle 1 laterally and, when packing of the container is complete, also axially (as will become clear). The supports 11 are long enough to enable the surfaces 13 to receive the wheels of another car, i.e. are longer than the wheelbase of the other car, as will be discussed in further detail shortly.

With reference to Figure 8, after the supports 11 and chocks 6 are arranged in position, an inflatable dunnage bag 12 is placed in the space between the bracing portions 14 of the supports 11. Next, respective ramps 20 are arranged at the outer ends of the supports 11. The ramps 20, one of which is shown in Figure 2B, are also polystyrene. The forward end 21 of the ramp 20 (in all embodiments) is of the same height as the rearward end of the respective support 11 such that when the flat upright end face 25 of the ramp 20 abuts the upright forward end face 17 of the respective support 11 the upper surfaces 13 of the supports and inclined surfaces 23 of the ramps meet. The base 27 of each ramp 20 is formed with a step 29 having a height the same as the height at which the floor of the container 5 lies above the ground, whereby the rearward end of the ramp rests upon the ground surface and the remainder of the flat underside of the base 27 rests on the container floor, with the step 29 being received against the edge of the container floor at the open end 3.

Following placement of the ramps 20, a second vehicle 1' is driven up the ramps 20, through the open end 3, and onto the upper surfaces 13 of the supports 11 (see Figure 1C). Engagement between the steps 29 and floor edge helps to prevent the ramps 20 from being forwardly displaced when the vehicle 1' is driven up the ramps 20. Because the ramps 20 and supports 11 are arranged outside the sides of the vehicle 1 , the pairs of front and rear wheels of the second vehicle 1 ' must have a wider track (lateral wheel separation) than the first vehicle 1. In this embodiment (and indeed each of the described embodiments), the vehicles being packed are all the same model so that widening of the front and rear tracks of vehicle 1' is necessary before it can be driven into the container 5. Briefly, the track is widened by inserting spacers between the wheels of vehicle 1' and their respective hubs, as will be described in further detail below.

Vehicle 1' is parked on the upper surfaces 13 of the supports 11 (see Figures ID and 9) so that an end thereof, in this embodiment its front end, is arranged over the rearward (front) end of vehicle 1. The person parking vehicle 1 ' exits that vehicle then connects belts or slings 30 between connection points at the front and rear of vehicle I¹ and connection points 32 formed in the container adjacent its ceiling, which slings run oblique to the lateral and longitudinal axes of the container 5, then tensions the slings 30 so that they laterally and axially restrain vehicle 1'. The person also inserts a polystyrene pad 34 between the roof of the vehicle 1' and the ceiling of the container 5 to provide restraint against upward, or "negative G-force", displacement of the vehicle 1' during transit. The person walks along surfaces 13 and 21 on each side of the vehicle as required (stepping either over or around the rear wheel of vehicle 1' as necessary) to fit the slings 30 and exit the container 5. The ramps 20 are then removed.

The track of the front wheels of vehicle 1' as increased is less than that of its rear wheels as increased. Accordingly, the supports 11 are configured and arranged such that the front wheels will be supported on surfaces 13 at positions adjacent the laterally inner sides of the supports 11 at their forward ends whereas the rear wheels will be supported on the surface 13 at positions adjacent the laterally outer sides of the supports 11 at their rearward ends (see Figures 9a and 9b). Each surface 13 is thus sufficiently wide to accommodate the difference between the lateral positions of the front and rear wheels it receives.

Next, the dunnage bag 28 is inflated (see Figure 10) such that its upper end engages vehicle 1 ' from below, thus taking a portion of the weight of vehicle 1 ' and causing slight compression of pad 34 between the roof of vehicle 1' and the container ceiling.

A third vehicle 1" is then driven in a forward direction into the container, the third vehicle 1", as indicated above, being the same model as vehicles 1 and 1', and parked when its forward end is received below the rear end of vehicle 1', as will be clear from

Figures IE and 11, and between the rearward ends of the supports 11, in particular when its front bumper is received against the tapered faces 16 adjacent those ends, whereupon the supports 11 become effectively locked between the forward ends of vehicles 1 and 1 ". The rearward ends of the supports 11 stop slightly short of the front doors of vehicle 1" (in the same way that the forward ends of those supports stop short of the front doors of vehicle 1) to allow the driver then to open the door and exit vehicle 1" and the container 5.

Finally, chocks 6 are driven between the rear wheels of the vehicle 1 " and the container side walls to provide lateral bracing to the vehicle 1" at its rear end.

Attached to the rear end of the rear bumper of the vehicle 1" is a protective strip of polystyrene 2, the same as that provided on the rear bumper of vehicle 1 , which contacts the rearward end wall of the container 5 when the open end 3 is closed, whereby the packed arrangement is effectively locked axially between the container end walls. Vehicles 1 and 1" are braced axially and laterally at their facing ends by tapered faces 16.

Advantageously, because the strips 2, chocks 6, supports 11 and pad 34 are polystyrene, they are rigid enough to provide the requisite bracing to the vehicles 1, 1' and 1" during shipping yet soft enough for there to be minimal risk of damage resulting from that bracing. Moreover, the spacers (which will be described in further detail shortly) are dimensioned such that the outer radial walls of the rear tyres of vehicles 1' and 1" almost touch the inner wall of the container 5, whereby slight lateral displacement of the rear end of that vehicle will give rise to contact between one of those tyres and the inner wall of the container 5 and thus supplementary lateral restraint to the vehicle 1'.

A spacer 50 of the type used to widen the vehicle track in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 3 A and 3B. The spacer 50 of the embodiment illustrated is formed as a single element from a solid block of wood and is of generally cylindrical form, comprising a laterally inner end wall 52 (see Figure 3A), a flat laterally outer end wall 54 (see Figure 3B) and a circumferential wall 56 extending between the walls 52 and 54. Formed into the circumferential wall 56 are five axial channels 58 arranged at regular angular intervals therearound, each channel 58 extending from wall 52 to wall 54. Each channel 58 has the cross-sectional profile of a part circle which subtends an angle of approximately 270°. Formed into wall 52, which is otherwise flat, is a circular cavity or recess 59.

With reference to Figure 3C, prior to location of the spacer 50 against the hub 40, a respective extension rod 60, threaded at each end (at least), is secured to each of the five bolts on the hub 40 by means of a respective connector 62, the connector 62 being configured with an extended hexagonal sleeve or nut portion 61 and a flange portion 63 at one end of the nut portion 61. A threaded bore 64 extends through the connector 62, whereby the connector 62 may be screwed onto the respective bolt at its one end until the flange portion 63 tightly abuts the face of the hub 40 from which the bolts extend, and then receive into its other end a threaded end of rod 60, giving rise to the arrangement depicted in Figure 4A. The spacer 50 is fitted to that arrangement by aligning the channels 58 at its laterally inner end 52 with the outer ends of the rods 60 then advancing the end 52 towards the hub 40 such that the rods 60 are received in the channels 58 until the face 52 abuts the outermost faces of the flange portions 63, whereupon it is arranged closely adjacent the flange face 42 of the hub 40. With the spacer 50 so positioned, the nut portions 62 are received snugly into the ends of the respective channels, with little or no play, whereby the spacer is mounted to the hub 40 and locked relative thereto in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation thereof. The grease point 44 of the hub 40, which projects outwardly from the face 40, is accommodated within the recess 59 to permit the abutment.

It can be seen from Figure 4B that the rods 60 are of such a length that their outer ends will project clear of the laterally outer end of the spacer 50 when mounted, to be receivable through the bolt holes in the rim 72 of the respective wheel 70 (see Figure 4C) for receipt of the wheel studs to secure the rim 72 against the outer face 54 and thus mount the wheel 70 to the vehicle at a position laterally outward of its normal position, the flange portions 63 affording the connection greater bending stiffness.

It will be appreciated that the spacer 50 may be formed from alternative materials; for example, it may be formed from plastic (e.g. polyethylene), such as by rotational moulding, or cast or extruded from aluminium. Furthermore, it may have any of a number of cross-sectional configurations provided it can be securely mounted to the sleeves 62/rods 60. Moreover, spacers according to alternative embodiments will be configured for use with wheels having four-bolt and six-bolt patterns. The spacers may also be configured with internal, rather than external, passages to receive the rods 60 therethrough. Spacer 50 may be provided in various lengths, according to the desired spacing distance. Shown in Figure 5A are three exemplary spacers 50a, 50b, 50c of different lengths.

The spacers 50 also may be provided with extension pieces 51a, 51b, as also shown in

Figure 5 A. Shown in Figure 5B is a composite spacer 50' which is formed from spacer element 50b and extension pieces 51a, 51b, which are shorter in length than spacer element 50b but have the same cross-sectional configuration. Spacer elements 50 and extension pieces 51 , which may be prefabricated in whatever lengths are appropriate, may be combined, in end-to-end abutting relation, in an appropriate number to produce a desired spacing, with the rods 60, of course, being made to an appropriate corresponding length. The combined pieces 50 and 51 will be held together between the hub and respective wheel when the wheel is fixed to the rods 60.

Shown in Figures 12A to 12E are the various stages of loading utility vehicles into a shipping container in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method is essentially identical to that of the previous embodiment except that the first vehicle 100 is driven forwardly into the shipping container 5 (with protective strip 2 attached to its front bumper to engage end wall 7), instead of being reversed, whereby its tray 4 faces the open end 3 and it is the rear bumper of the vehicle which engages the tapered support faces 16. Because the level of the top of the tray 2 is lower than that of the top of the cab 8, and does not increase between the rear and front ends of the tray 4, the second vehicle 10' (with appropriately dimensioned spacers fitted) can overlap a longer portion of the first vehicle 10 than would be possible if the front end of that vehicle were facing the open end 3. As will be clear from Figure 12E, the third vehicle 10" is driven forwardly into the container 5. Advantageously, the clearance below the rear end of the utility vehicle is greater than that at the vehicle's front end, whereby the third vehicle 10" can be driven forwards into the container 5 a greater distance (before its cab becomes close to fouling against that rear end) than would be possible if the vehicle 10' faced the open end 3 of the container 5, thus increasing the compactness of the arrangement. Of course, the supports 11 and ramps 20 will be dimensioned according to the thickness of the tyres and difference between the front and rear tracks of vehicle 10'. Moreover, the lengths of the bracing portion 14 of the supports 11 and of the supports themselves will be set according to the wheelbase. The polystyrene chocks 6, slings 30, strips 2 and polystyrene pad 34, appropriately dimensioned, are employed in this embodiment, in exactly the same manner as in the previous embodiment. It will be appreciated that the vehicle 10" can instead be reversed into the container 3 such that its rear end is received below the rear end of vehicle 10' (in which case its front bumper would be provided with the protective strip).

Shown in Figures 13A to 13E are the various stages of loading sports utilities vehicles (SUVs) into a shipping container in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method is essentially identical to that described for the first embodiment with the exception that the supports 11' are tapered slightly such that their upper surfaces 13' are inclined towards their forward ends. As a result, the second vehicle 100', is angularly orientated such that the rear end of its roof, which is higher than the front end of the roof when the vehicle 100 is level, is lower than it would be if the upper surface 13' were flat, and thus prevented from fouling against the ceiling of the container 5 when supported on the supports 11'. The forward ends of the ramps 20' are, correspondingly, shorter in height. Because the ground clearance below the rear ends of the SUVs is greater than that below the front ends, the front end of the third vehicle 100" can still be accommodated below the rear end of the second vehicle 100' notwithstanding that rear end being lower than it would be if the surface 13' extended horizontally, instead of declining, from the forward end of support 1 1'. The polystyrene chocks 6, slings 30, strips 2 and polystyrene pad 34, appropriately dimensioned, are employed in this embodiment, in exactly the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

Shown in Figures 14A to 14E are the various stages of loading hatchback-type vehicles into a shipping container in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Loading commences by reversing a first vehicle 1000 into the container until the polystyrene strip 2 attached to its (rear) bumper contacts the wall at the forward end 7. The chocks 6 are then inserted between the rear wheels and respective side walls of the container 5. Supports 11" are then arranged at either side of vehicle 1000 in the same manner as described for the previous embodiments, whereby the front bumper of vehicle 1000 contacts the tapered faces 16 adjacent the forward ends of the supports 11". An inflatable dunnage bag 12 is then arranged between the bracing portions of the supports 11" and ramps 20a are arranged at the rearward ends of the supports 11". The ramps 20a are received wholly within the container 5 and thus have continuous flat bases. Second vehicle 1000' is then driven up ramps 20a onto supports 11" and slung in the same manner as described for the previous embodiments. The dunnage bag is then inflated to take up some of the weight of vehicle 1000'. In all of the embodiments, the spacers are dimensioned such that the rear tyres of the vehicles supported on supports contact, or lie very closely adjacent to, the side walls of the container. Third vehicle 1000" is then reversed into the container 5 until its rear bumper contacts the tapered faces 16 at the rearward end of the supports 11". Because vehicle 1000 has a relatively steep bonnet and windscreen, and there is a comparatively small clearance below the front end of the vehicle 1000', the upper surface of support 11" is relatively steep. Moreover, to achieve the degree of overlap shown in Figure 14C, the height of the upper surface of the supports 11" is generally greater then that of the other embodiments, as made allowable by the comparatively small height of the vehicle 1000'.

Advantageously, owing to the short length of the vehicles in this embodiment, and the degree to which they overlap in the container 5, a fourth vehicle can be accommodated within the container 5. Accordingly, instead of chocks 6 being placed between the rearward end (front) wheels of vehicle 1000", an additional pair of supports 11" is arranged at either side of vehicle 1000", such that its front bumper contacts the tapered faces adjacent the forward end thereof. An inflatable dunnage bag is then placed between the further supports 11", and ramps 20b are arranged at their rearward ends. Since the ramps 20b are received against both the ground surface and the container floor, as can be seen in Figure 14D, their bases are configured with steps as described for the ramps 20 and 20'. Next, the fourth vehicle 1000'" is driven up the ramps 20b onto the upper surfaces of further supports 11". The vehicle 1000" is then slung in the same way as described previously, and the dunnage bag thereunder inflated to take up some of its weight. A polystyrene strip 2 attached to the rear bumper of vehicle 1000'" will contact the wall of the container 5 at the end 3 when that end is closed. Pads 34 are received between the ceilings of the supported vehicles.

Unloading of the vehicles in any of the embodiments involves essentially the reverse of the steps described for loading. In the case of the first, second and third embodiments, the vehicle which was loaded third is driven/reversed out of the end 3 of the container 5 when opened (with chocks removed) and the dunnage bag below the vehicle which was loaded second is deflated and removed. Then, respective ramps are arranged against the supports which support that vehicle, and that vehicle is unsecured (by removing the slings and pad) and driven/reversed down the ramps and out of the open end 3. Finally, the ramps and supports are removed from the container 5 and the vehicle which was loaded first (with chocks removed) is driven/reversed out of the container. These steps are also taken for the fourth embodiment but are, of course, preceded by unloading of the vehicle 1000'", which involves placing of the ramps 20b" against the front ends of the supports 1 1" which support the vehicle deflating the dunnage bag beneath the vehicle, removing the slings and pad from the vehicle, reversing the vehicle down the ramps 20" to unload it from the container 5 and then removing the dunnage bag.

The ramps are stowed in the container during transit.

The preferred embodiments of the invention provide several advantages, including a simple, rapid, inexpensive and safe way of loading and freighting vehicles, particularly cars, in containers such as shipping containers.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to cars, the invention also having application, for example, to trucks, particularly light trucks, trailers and rolling stock.

Moreover, the invention is not limited to loading of shipping containers; it may also have application to other containers used for freighting, particularly containers having interiors which are not sufficiently wide to receive the wheeled vehicles side-by-side therein.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method of loading wheeled vehicles in a container, each vehicle having longitudinally spaced pairs of ground-engaging wheels, the wheels in each pair being arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle, the method including:

(1) moving a first vehicle on its own wheels into the container through an open end of the container;

2. A method according to claim 1, including temporarily increasing the lateral spacing of the forward wheels of the second vehicle such that that spacing exceeds the width of the rearward end portion of the first vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the lateral spacing is increased by mounting a temporary spacer between at least one of the forward wheels of the second vehicle and its respective mounting.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a temporary spacer is mounted between each of the forward wheels and its mounting.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein ramps are arranged at rearward ends of the supports and the second vehicle is moved on its own wheels up the ramps onto the supports.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the ramps are formed from substantially rigid expanded plastics foam.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the ramps are formed from polystyrene.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports are arranged such that they engage the rearward end portion of the first vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to a longitudinal and lateral axis of the container, the faces being arranged to engage the rearward end portion.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inflatable supportive bag is arranged beneath the second vehicle when supported on the supports and inflated such that it engages the underside of the second vehicle to support a proportion of the weight thereof.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports are arranged such that the rearward wheels of the second vehicle are supported on rearward ends of the supports, the method further comprising:

12. A method according to claim 11, further including mounting a temporary spacer between each of the rearward wheels and its mounting that the lateral spacing of the rearward wheels exceeds the width of the forward end portion of the third vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the supports are arranged to engage the forward end portion of the third vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the supports are configured with faces which are arranged oblique to longitudinal and lateral axes of the container, the faces being arranged to engage the forward end portion of the third vehicle.

15. A method according to claim 14 as appended to claim 9, wherein the faces which engage the forward end of the third vehicle cooperate with the faces which engage the rearward end of the first vehicle to lock the supports axially between the first and third vehicles.

16. A method according to claim 11 or any one of claims 12 to 15 as appended thereto, further comprising:

17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is a shipping container.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the vehicles are driven into the container and onto/between the supports.

19. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports and/or further supports are formed from substantially rigid expanded plastics foam.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the and/or further supports are formed from polystyrene.

21. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports and/or further supports are freestanding.

22. A container having packed therein a plurality of vehicles loaded by way of the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

23. A container having packed therein a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle having longitudinally spaced pairs of ground-engaging wheels, the wheels in each pair being arranged at opposite sides of the vehicle, wherein:

a first vehicle is supported on a floor of the container on its own wheels;

the wheels of one pair of wheels of a second vehicle are supported on the first ends of the supports, those wheels ("the supported wheels") having a lateral spacing which exceeds the width of the said end portion of the first vehicle, whereby a first end portion of the second vehicle is arranged above the said end portion of the first vehicle.

24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the lateral spacing of the supported wheels is increased by way of temporary spacers mounted between the supported wheels and mountings thereof.

25. A container according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the supports engage the said end portion of the first vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto.

26. A container according to any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the wheels of the other pair of wheels of the second vehicle are supported on second ends of the supports.

27. A container according to claim 26, wherein a third vehicle is supported on the floor on its own wheels, the third vehicle having a first end portion which has a width less than the lateral spacing of the wheels of said other pair ("the further supported wheels") and which is located between said second ends, whereby the first end portion of the third vehicle is arranged below a second end portion of the second vehicle.

28. A container according to claim 27, wherein the lateral spacing of the further supported wheels is increased by way of a temporary spacer between each of the further supported wheels and a respective mounting thereof.

29. A container according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the supports engage the first end portion of the third vehicle to provide lateral and/or axial support thereto.

30. A container according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein a pair of further supports is arranged in the container such that a second end portion of the third vehicle is located between ends of the further supports, and the wheels of one pair of wheels of a fourth vehicle are supported on the said ends of the further supports, those wheels having a * lateral spacing which exceeds the width of the second end portion of the third vehicle, whereby an end portion of the fourth vehicle is arranged above the second end portion of the third vehicle .

31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the wheels of the other pair of wheels of the fourth vehicle are supported on ends of the further supports which are opposite to the said ends of the further supports.

32. A vehicle wheel spacing device for use in a method according to any one of claims 3, 4 and 12, the device comprising:

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the fastening means is removably connectable at one end to mounting bolts on the mounting and removably connectable at the other end to the wheel through holes in the wheel at positions corresponding to those of the mounting bolts to effect clamping of the spacer between the wheel and the mounting.

34. A device according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the fastening means is configured to engage the spacer to lock it rotationally with respect to the mounting.

35. A device according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the fastening means is configured to engage the spacer to lock it radially with respect to the hub.

36. A device according to claim 33, or claim 34 or 35 as appended thereto, wherein the fastening means comprises a plurality of rods, one end of each rod being connectable to a respective said mounting bolt and the other end being receivable through a respective said hole.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein the fastening means further includes a plurality of connector elements, each connector element having a first end configured for threaded engagement with a respective said mounting bolt and a second end being configured for attachment to the one end of the respective rod.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein the spacer is formed with passages into respective ones of which the elements are snugly receivable to lock the spacer to the hub in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the hub.

39. A device according to any one of claim 36 to 38, wherein each rod is formed with a thread at its other end to receive a wheel nut to fix it to the wheel.

40. A device according to any one of claims 36 to 39, wherein the spacer is formed with a plurality passages spaced around a circumference thereof, each passage being configured to receive a respective one of the rods therein.

41. A device according to claim 38 or claim 40, wherein the passages comprise channels defined by an outer surface of the spacer.