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 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of unloading a storage container from a transport vehicle to a surface, the vehicle including a vehicle frame for supporting the storage container at a transport position thereon, the vehicle frame having a forward end and a rearward end, said method comprising

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of unloading a storage container from a transport vehicle to a surface, the vehicle including a vehicle frame for supporting the storage container at a transport position thereon, the vehicle frame having a forward end and a rearward end, said method comprising: raising the container from the transport position thereof over the vehicle frame with a pair of horizontal lifting members each having a forward end and a rearward end, the forward ends of the lifting members being operably engaged by a vertically movable member such that the lifting members are vertically movable in correspondence therewith and such that the rearward ends of the lifting members are unsupported, the lifting members being laterally separated by at least a width of the container and being operably engaged with the container via a tether; moving the lifting members longitudinally rearward along the vehicle frame with a translatory device operably engaged between the vertically-movable member and the vehicle frame until the container extends past a vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame; lowering the lifting members so as to lower the container to the surface; disengaging the tethers form the container; moving the lifting members longitudinally forward along the vehicle frame toward the forward end thereof; and stowing the lifting members relative to the vehicle frame so the lifting members are positioned below the storage container when in the transport position thereon. 2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising independently actuating a plurality of support members operably engaged with the vehicle frame so as to level the vehicle frame with respect to the surface before raising the container over the vehicle frame. 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein raising the container over the vehicle frame and lowering the lifting members further comprise actuating a lifting actuator operably engaged with at least one of the vertically-movable member and the lifting members so as to vertically move the lifting members with respect to the vehicle frame. 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein moving he lifting members longitudinally along the vehicle frame further comprises actuating a translatory actuator operably engaged with the translatory device so as to longitudinally move the vertically-movable member and the lifting members with respect to the vehicle frame. 5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising actuating a spacing actuator operably engaged with a connecting member operably engaged between the vertically-movable member and each lifting member, the connecting member being pivotably engaged with the vertically-movable member and fixedly engaged with the respective lifting member, so as to pivot the lifting members with respect to the vertically-movable member and adjust the lateral separation of the lifting members. 6. A method of loading a storage container having sides onto a transport vehicle from a surface with a pair of horizontal lifting members each having a forward and a rearward end, the lifting members being operably engaged at the front ends thereof by a vertically-movable member and being configured to be vertically-movable with respect to the vehicle and in correspondence with the vertically-movable member, the vehicle having a frame which defines a forward end and a rearward end, said method comprising: moving the lifting members longitudinally rearward along the vehicle frame, with a translatory device operably engaged between the vehicle frame and the lifting members, and past a vertical plane defined by the rearward end thereof; lowering the lifting members until the lifting members are disposed on either side of and adjacent the container; operably engaging a tether between each lifting member and the container so as to secure the container thereto; raising the lifting members so as to raise the container from the surface and past a horizontal plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame; moving the lifting members longitudinally forward along the vehicle frame with the translatory device until the container is disposed over a transport position on the vehicle frame; lowering the lifting members so as to lower the container onto the transport position of the vehicle frame such that the container is supported thereby; and stowing the lifting members relative to the vehicle frame so the lifting members are positioned below the storage container when in the transport position thereon. 7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising independently actuating a plurality of support members operably engaged with the vehicle frame so as to level the vehicle frame with respect to the surface before raising the lifting members to raise the container from the surface. 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein raising and lowering the lifting members further comprise actuating a lifting actuator operably engaged with at least one of the vertically-movable member and the lifting members so as to vertically move the lifting members with respect to the vehicle frame. 9. A method according to claim 6 wherein moving the lifting members longitudinally along the vehicle frame further comprises actuating a translatory actuator operably engaged with the translatory device so as to longitudinally move the vertically-movable member and the lifting members with respect to the vehicle frame. 10. A method according to claim 6 further comprising actuating a spacing actuator operably engaged with a connecting member operably engaged between the vertically-movable member and each lifting member, the connecting member being pivotably engaged with the vertically-movable member and fixedly engaged with the respective lifting member, so as to pivot the lifting members with respect to the vertically-movable member and adjust the lateral separation of the lifting members. 11. A method according to claim 6 wherein the tether has a container end and a lifting member end and operably engaging a tether between each lifting member and the container further comprises operably engaging the container end of the tether with a spacer operably engaged with the container, the spacer being configured to space the container end of the tether away from the container. 12. A method for transporting a container supported on a vehicle frame to a delivery site, and thereafter unloading the container from the vehicle frame onto a container-supporting surface at the delivery site, the method comprising: (a) providing a transport vehicle capable of transporting the container to the delivery site and unloading the container at the delivery site, 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, the transport vehicle having 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, 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, and a translatory member for longitudinally moving the container between a transport position thereof wherein the container is positioned over the vehicle frame and a loading/unloading position thereof wherein the container is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle frame; (b) transporting the container while supported on the vehicle frame to the delivery site such that, during transport of the container on the vehicle frame to the delivery site, the lifting members of the transport vehicle are in the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame so as to be positioned below the container; (c) positioning the transport vehicle so that the rearward end of the vehicle frame is adjacent the container-supporting surface at the delivery site; (d) operating the spacing device so as to move the lifting members laterally from the stowed position thereof to a lifting position wherein the lifting members are positioned laterally outside the container, and while in the lifting position; (e) operatively connecting the lifting members to the container while the lifting members are in the lifting position thereof; (f) operating the vertically-movable member so as to move the lifting members to a raised position so that the container is raised above the vehicle frame; (g) operating the translatory member while the lifting members are in the raised position so as to move the container from the transport position thereof to the loading/unloading position thereof, and thereafter (h) operating the vertically-movable member so as to vertically move the lifting arms and the container supported thereby from the raised position to a lowered position thereof, whereby the container is lowered to the container-supporting surface at the delivery site. 13. A method for loading a container onto a vehicle frame from a container-supporting surface at a delivery site, and thereafter transporting the container while supported by the vehicle frame away from the delivery site, the method comprising: (a) providing 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, the transport vehicle having 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, 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, and a translatory member for longitudinally moving the container between a transport position thereof wherein the container is positioned over the vehicle frame and a loading/unloading position thereof wherein the container is positioned rearwardly of the vehicle frame; (b) positioning the transport vehicle relative to the container at the container-supporting surface so that the rearward end of the vehicle frame is adjacent the container; (c) operating the vertically movable and translatory members so as to position the lifting members at a lowered position laterally adjacent the container; (d) operatively connecting the lifting members to the container while the lifting members are in the lowered position thereof; (e) operating the vertically-movable member so as to vertically move the lifting arms and the container from the lowered position thereof to a raised position thereof to raise the container from the container-supporting surface; (f) operating the translatory device while the lifting members are in the raised position thereof so as to longitudinally move the vertical movement device from the loading/unloading position to the transport position; (g) operating the vertically-movable member so as to move the lifting members into a rest position and thereby lower the container onto the vehicle frame; (h) disconnecting the container from the lifting members while the lifting members are in the resting position thereof; and thereafter (i) operating the spacing device so as to laterally move the lifting members from the resting position thereof and into a stowed position wherein the lifting members are positioned adjacent the vehicle frame below the container. 14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the lifting members and the container are operatively connected by tethers extending therebetween. 15. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein the spacing device causes the lifting members to pivotally move laterally towards and away from one another.