IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0395861
(2003-03-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Lockamy,Timothy Aaron
- Byrd,Edward Morton
- Thisse,Thor Robert
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
A device adapted to operably engage a vehicle to load and unload a container between the vehicle and a surface, and to cooperate with the vehicle to transport the container, is provided. Such a device includes a pair of laterally separated horizontal lifting members configured to be vertically movab
A device adapted to operably engage a vehicle to load and unload a container between the vehicle and a surface, and to cooperate with the vehicle to transport the container, is provided. Such a device includes a pair of laterally separated horizontal lifting members configured to be vertically movable with respect to the vehicle and a vertically-movable member operably engaged with the forward ends of the lifting members. A tether is operably engaged between each lifting member and the container so as to secure the container thereto. A translatory device is engaged between the vehicle and the vertically-movable member and configured to support the lifting members as well as move the lifting members longitudinally with respect to the vehicle. To unload the container, the vertically-movable member and the lifting members raise the container above the vehicle and then the translatory device longitudinally moves the container along the vehicle past a vertical plane defined by the rearward end thereof The container is then lowered to the surface by the vertically-movable member and the lifting members and the tethers disengaged from the container. The reverse procedure loads the container onto the vehicle. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. A device to be operably engaged with a transport vehicle so as to be capable of loading a container onto the vehicle from a container-supporting surface, unloading the container from the vehicle to the container-supporting surface, and cooperating with the vehicle to tr
The invention claimed is: 1. A device to be operably engaged with a transport vehicle so as to be capable of loading a container onto the vehicle from a container-supporting surface, unloading the container from the vehicle to the container-supporting surface, and cooperating with the vehicle to transport the container, the transport vehicle having a vehicle frame with a forward end and a rearward end between which the container is supported when the container is loaded onto and transported by the vehicle, the vehicle frame being configured such that a widthwise dimension of the container is greater than a widthwise dimension of the vehicle frame, said device comprising: a vertical movement device having a vertically-movable member capable of vertical movements relative to the vehicle frame; a pair of horizontal lifting members each having an unsupported rearward end and a forward end which is operably engaged with the vertically-movable member of the vertical movement device to move the lifting members the vertically in response to vertical movements of the vertically-movable member between (1) a raised position wherein the lifting members are spaced above the vehicle frame, and (2) a lowered position wherein the lifting members are positioned below the vehicle frame adjacent the container-supporting surface, and (3) a resting position between the raised and lowered positions; a spacing device operatively connecting the forward ends of the lifting members to the vertical movement device for moving the lifting members laterally towards and away from one another between a stowed position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is less than the widthwise dimension of the container and positionable adjacent the vehicle frame, and a lifting position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is greater than the widthwise dimension of the container; tethers capable of being operatively engaged between the container and each of the lifting members, the tethers securing the lifting members to the container so that the lifting members support the container via the tethers; and a translatory device adapted for operable association with the vehicle frame and configured to support the lifting members and the container supported thereby via the tethers, wherein the translatory device is operably connected to the vertical movement device so as to longitudinally move the vertical movement device between a transport position wherein the container is located forwardly of a vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame, and a loading/unloading position wherein the container is located rearwardly of the vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame; wherein during transport of the container on the vehicle frame, the lifting members are in the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame so as to be positioned below the container; and wherein during unloading of the container from the vehicle frame to the container-supporting surface, the lifting members are moved by the spacing device laterally from the stowed position to the lifting position and while in the lifting position with the tethers operatively engaged between the lifting members and the container, the lifting members are moved by the vertically-movable member from the resting position to the raised position so that the container is raised above the vehicle frame, and while in the raised position the translatory member longitudinally moves the container from the transport position thereof to the loading/unloading position thereof, whereafter the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container supported thereby via the tethers from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, whereby the container is lowered to the container-supporting surface, and wherein during loading of the container onto the vehicle frame from the container-supporting surface, the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container from the lowered position thereof to the raised position thereof to raise the container from the container-supporting surface, and while in the raised position the translatory device is operable to longitudinally move the vertical movement device from the loading/unloading position to the transport position, the vertically-movable member being operable so as to lower the container onto the vehicle frame by movement of the lifting arms to the resting position thereof, whereafter the spacing device is operable to laterally move the lifting members into the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame below the container. 2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a translatory actuator operably engaged with the translatory device and configured to longitudinally move the vertical movement device and the lifting members between the transport and loading/unloading positions with respect to the vehicle frame. 3. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a lift actuator operably engaged with at least one of the vertically-movable member and the lifting members, the lift actuator being configured to vertically move the lifting members between the raised and lowered positions with respect to the vehicle frame. 4. A device according to claim 1 further comprising connecting members operably engaged between the respective lifting members and the vertically-movable member. 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the connecting members are pivotably engaged with the vertically-movable member and fixedly engaged with the respective lifting members such that pivoting of the connecting members with respect to the vertically-movable member corresponds to the lateral separation of the lifting members. 6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the spacing device comprises a spacing actuator operably engaged with the connecting members and configured to pivot the connecting members with respect to the vertically-movable member. 7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the vertical movement device operably engages the vertically-movable member and the translatory device, the vertical movement device having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to vertically move the vertically-movable member with respect to the vehicle. 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the lower end of the vertical movement device is pivotably engaged with the translatory device such that the upper end is capable of pivoting between the forward and rearward ends of the vehicle frame. 9. A device according to claim 8 further comprising a pivot actuator operably engaged between the translatory device and the vertical movement device and configured to pivot the vertical movement device with respect to the translatory device. 10. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of the tethers has a container end and a lifting member end and the device further comprises a spacer operably engageable between the container and container end of the respective tether, the spacer being configured to space the container end of the tether away from the container. 11. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a pivot actuator operably engaged between the translatory device and the vertical movement device and configured to pivot the vertical movement device with respect to the translatory device. 12. A system for transporting a storage container and for positioning the storage container relative to a container-supporting surface, said system comprising: a transport vehicle having a vehicle frame with a forward end and a rearward end between which the container is supported when the container is loaded onto and transported by the vehicle, the vehicle frame being configured such that a widthwise dimension of the container is greater than a widthwise dimension of the vehicle frame; a vertical movement device having a vertically-movable member capable of vertical movements relative to the vehicle frame; a pair of horizontal lifting members each having an unsupported rearward end and a forward end which is operably engaged with the vertically-movable member of the vertical movement device to move the lifting members vertically in response to vertical movements of the vertically-movable member between (1) a raised position wherein the lifting members are spaced above the vehicle frame, and (2) a lowered position wherein the lifting members are positioned below the vehicle frame adjacent the container-supporting surface, and (3) a resting position between the raised and lowered positions; a spacing device operatively connecting the forward ends of the lifting members to the vertical movement device for moving the lifting members laterally towards and away from one another between a stowed position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is less than the widthwise dimension of the container and positionable adjacent the vehicle frame, and a lifting position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is greater than the widthwise dimension of the container; tethers capable of being operatively engaged between the container and each of the lifting members, the tethers securing the lifting members to the container so that the lifting members support the container via the tethers; and a translatory device adapted for operable association with the vehicle frame and configured to support the lifting members and the container supported thereby via the tethers, wherein the translatory device is operably connected to the vertical movement device so as to longitudinally move the vertical movement device between a transport position wherein the container is located forwardly of a vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame, and a loading/unloading position wherein the container is located rearwardly of the vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame; wherein during transport of the container on the vehicle frame, the lifting members are in the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame so as to be positioned below the container; and wherein during unloading of the container from the vehicle frame to the container-supporting surface, the lifting members are moved by the spacing device laterally from the stowed position to the lifting position and while in the lifting position with the tethers operatively engaged between the lifting members and the container, the lifting members are moved by the vertically-movable member from the resting position to the raised position so that the container is raised above the vehicle frame, and while in the raised position the translatory member longitudinally moves the container from the transport position thereof to the loading/unloading position thereof, whereafter the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container supported thereby via the tethers from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, whereby the container is lowered to the container-supporting surface, and wherein during loading of the container onto the vehicle frame from the container-supporting surface, the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container from the lowered position thereof to the raised position thereof to raise the container from the container-supporting surface, and while in the raised position the translatory device is operable to longitudinally move the vertical movement device from the loading/unloading position to the transport position, the vertically-movable member being operable so as to lower the container onto the vehicle frame by movement of the lifting arms to the resting position thereof, whereafter the spacing device is operable to laterally move the lifting members into the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame below the container. 13. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a translatory actuator operably engaged with the translatory device and configured to longitudinally move the vertical movement device and the lifting members between the transport and loading/unloading positions with respect to the vehicle frame. 14. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a lift actuator operably engaged with at least one of the vertically-movable member and the lifting members, the lift actuator being configured to vertically move the lifting members between the raised and lowered positions with respect to the vehicle frame. 15. A system according to claim 12 further comprising connecting members operably engaged between the respective lifting members and the vertically-movable member. 16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the connecting members are pivotably engaged with the vertically-movable member and fixedly engaged with the respective lifting members such that pivoting of the connecting members with respect to the vertically-movable member corresponds to the lateral separation of the lifting members. 17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the spacing device comprises a spacing actuator operably engaged with the connecting members and configured to pivot the connecting members with respect to the vertically-movable member. 18. A system according to claim 12 wherein the vertical movement device operably engages the vertically-movable member and the translatory device, the vertical movement device having an upper end and a lower end and being configured to vertically move the vertically-movable member with respect to the vehicle. 19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the lower end of the vertical movement device is pivotably engaged with the translatory device such that the upper end is capable of pivoting between the forward and rearward ends of the vehicle frame. 20. A system according to claim 12 wherein each of the tethers has a container end and a lifting member end and the device further comprises a spacer operably engageable between the container and container end of the respective tether, the spacer being configured to space the container end of the tether away from the container. 21. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a plurality of support members operably engaged with the vehicle, the support members being independently actuatable so as to level the vehicle frame with respect to the container-supporting surface before the container is loaded and unloaded with respect to the vehicle.
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