CA1249794A

CA1249794A - Quick-mounted loading and unloading device

Info

Publication number: CA1249794A
Application number: CA000473599A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Denis Bibeau; Jacques Bibeau; Marcel Bibeau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-05
Filing date: 1985-02-05
Publication date: 1989-02-07

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A device designed to load and unload large objects from the flatbed of a flatbed truck is disclosed, comprising:
a first boom pivoted to a frame secured to the flatbed;
a second boom telescopically slidably mounted in the first boom. The second boom has an elbow defining an outer straight orthogonal segment. The latter in turn retains a telescopic-ally slidable third boom having a hook means at its outer end. The first boom is adapted to be pivoted from a hori-zontal rest position to a limit position defining an obtuse angle relative to the rest position.

Description

FIELD ~-.F THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to devices for harldliny large objects in the domain o transportation, more particularly to such a device adapted to co-operate with a truck, B CKGR_ND _F_ HE INVENIION
In commerce, surface transportation of goods and service items is frequently accomplished by truck, Specifically, flat-bed trucks are used to carry a variety of products over medium distances.
Nowadays such products and items are Erequently packed in large box-like containers. Thus, it is necessary to provide means to load and urlload the containers. In the past, the devices used included a tippiny frame and cables, or racks used to haul a container onto the rear frame of the truck. Such devices have tended to be mechanically weak and prone to breakdown. Other disadvantages of such devices have been documented in the Canadian Patent issued to Derain on October 2g, 1974 and bearing number 956,911, That Patent teaches the use of a device to loacl and unload "skips" from flat-bed trucks, consisting of a "square rnember" adapted to slide in a pair of slide members which are pivoted at one end to the truck chassis.
The design dictates that the "square member" must be slid rearwardly. Moreover, the device is limited to handling containers of the same size.

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More importantly, it would be highly desirable to have a device of the above type~ which is adapted to load and unloacl a wide variety of large objects on and off a flat-bed truck, thereby providing a versatile and improved vehicle.
OBJECT'~ OF_THr. INVE;NTION
In view of the above, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a device of the character described, which is adapted to load and unloacl a variety of large objects as well as containers of any si~e on to and off a flat-bed truck.
It is another object of the present lnvention to provide a device of the character described, which is simple in design, strong and inexpensive.
SUMMARY OF_THE INVF.NTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are realized according to a preferred embodiment comprising, in compination with a flat-bed truck, a lengthwise-extending flat frame rigidly secured to the flat-bed of the truck. Intermediate the ends of the frame is ~ournalled a transverse pivotal shaft.
~ rigid first boom member is fixed at one end to the pivotal shzaft, being adapted to pivot from a horizorltal forwardly-extending rest position parallel to the frame to a limit position, wherein lt extends upwardly rearwardly at a obtuse angle relative to the rest position. Power means are provided to effect such movement as well as to stop the first boom member at any intermediate position.

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The first hoom member is hollow, containing a second, telescopic boom m~?mber which has an orthogonal elbow extencling upwardly when the first boom rnember is in its rest position. The second telescopic boom member i5 also hollow and contains a third boom member which is Rlso telescopically exterldable. Second and third power means are provided to extend and retract the second and third boom member<;, respectivl.?ly.
The outer end of the third boom is formed with hook means .
BRIEF~ DESCRIPTION OF r~l E, DRAWINGS
The above will be n~ore clearly understood by referring to the preferred embodimerlt of the lnvention, illustrated by way of the accompanyiny drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flat-bed truck, in dashed outline, and the invention rnounted on the f].at-bed in travel position, also showing in dashed outline a platform supported thereon;
Figures 2 to ~ are side elevations of tile truck and the inventioll of Figure 1 in raised, extended configllration, raised, retractefl configuration and limit position, respecttvely; further showing the platform of Figure 1 in dashed out.line for each of the Figures;
Figure 5 is another side elevation of the truck of the invention, also showing a lift platform attached to the hook means of the device as well as a load of freiyht and frelght bin in dashed outline.

Fiyure 6 is a top plan view of the invention, also showiny the rear wheels and a portion of the truc}c chassisl in dashed outline;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Fiyure 7 but showing the second ancl third boom members in extended configuration.
Like numerals indicate like elements throughout the drawings, DETAI_ D DESCRIPT_ON OF THF. P_EFEiRRED M_ Q ME,Nr Figure 1 depicts a truck 1 having a flat-bed 1 and rear wheels 2. Rigidly secured to flat-bed 1 is a flat frame composed of two parallel, lenythwise-extending heams 3, which may be joined at their front ends by a transverse beam (not shown).
At the rear ends of the beams 3, a rigid transverse roller shaft 4 is journalled in a pair of lateral collars 5 fixed to their respective beams 3. Both collars 5 are formecl with guide discs 5 , Between the ends of beams 3 and sliyhtly rearwardly of their mid-length, a riyid transverse pivotal shaft 6 i5 journalled in beams 3. Such location is generally over rear wheels 2 for maximu~ st~bility.
A riyid first boom member 7 is secured at its lower end to the shaf~ 6, centrally thereof and reinforced by ribs 18.
As shown in Figure 6, boom 7 is powered by a first power means consisting of two hydraulic cylinr~ers 9, 10 secured at their forward ends to a pair of rigid pivot pins 11, 12, respectively. The latter are mounted in two pairs of lugs 13, 14, and 15, 16, respectively. In turn, all the lugs zare rigidly securecl to a transvl?rs(? an~Jle iron 17 extending below beams 3.
The pistor- rods 9 10 are pivotally secured to boom 7 on either side at a point intermediate the enrls of the latter.
F~eferring to Figurr?s 7 and 8, boom 7 is shown as being hollow and has mounted therein a second boom member 19 which is 10 telescopic. Second boom 19 is actuated by a second power means embodied by a hydraulic cylinder 20 secured to first boom 7 and having its pist on rod 20 fixed to second boom member 19 at 21.
Second boom 19 is formed with an elbow 22 defining an orthogonal outer straight segment 19 which extends generally rearwardly when boom 7 is raised.
A third boom member 23 is made telescopically slidable in straight portion 19 of second boom 19. T}lird power means extend and retract third boom 23, and consist of another hydraulic cylinder 24 secured to second boom 19 adjacent elbow 20 22. The~ piston rod 24 of cylinder 24 is fixecl to the third boom 23 at the outer end thereof.
All the controls for the cylinders are locaterl in the cab.
The outer end of boom 23 is formed with a hook means embodied by an upwardly-open hook 25.
Initially, the device accordiny to the invention is in rest position, aci seen in Figllre l, wherein second boom 19 is fully extended and segmellt 19 lies against ti,e rear wall of the truck cab. A platform 26 is supported on the device arld has a front vertical wall 26 retained by hook 25. In this position, the truck may either travel or unload platform 26.
~ he procedure for unloadirlg platforrn 26 is as follows:
a) boom 7 is rnoved upwardly by actuating cylinders 9, lO, as showt-\ in Figure 2;
b) when boorn 7 is thus tilted, booms l9 and 23 may or may not be extended, depending on the size of platform 26 (Figure 2 shows both booms l9 and 23 in fully-extended configuration);
c) platform 26, held by hook 25, will slide on rear roller shaft 4 until its rear edge contacts the ground, as in Figure 3;
d) cylinders 9, lO are further actuated wllile the truck l is moved slowly forward, so that boom 7 moves to its limit position at an obtuse angle relative to its original rest pos1tion~ as shown in Figure 4. It is then a simple motion to disengage hook 25 from platform 26, the latter being on the ground.
It is to be notecl that both booms lg and 23 can be extended or retracted to any intermediate position.
Figure 5 illustrates one further use of the device according to the invention. Boom 7 is in vertical position and booms 19 and 23 are fully extended, whereby the device can be used as a small li:Et or crane. A chain 27 is attached to hook 25 and supports a fork lift platform 28. Placed upon the latter is a load of, for example, bricks 29 coming from a bin 30.

It is to be further noted that the clevice as disclosed herein lends itself to loading and unloading a plurality of transportation ancl construction-related entities, such as the platform 26, a conventional dumping box, a metal scrap-receiving box, a livestock box and lumber transportation boxes or frames.
In addition, the clevice can also be adapted :Eor loading and unloading a salt or sand spreader, a closed van, a mobile office, and the like.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination with a flat-bed truck, a device for loading and unloading the same, comprising a lengthwise-extending flat frame secured to the flat-bed of said truck and having a rear end, a transverse roller shaft journalled at said rear end;
a transverse pivotal shaft journalled in said frame intermediate the ends thereof; a first rigid, tubular, boom member secured at one end to said pivotal shaft; said first boom member pivotable between a horizontal, frontwardly-extending rest position resting on said frame, and an upwardly- rearwardly-extending limit position relative to said frame; first power means to pivot said first boom member between said two positions; a second tubular boom member defining an inner segment telescopically engaged in said first boom member, an outer segment and a right angle elbow rigidly joining said inner and said outer segments; second power means to extend and retract said second boom member relative to said first boom member; a third boom member telescopically engaged in said outer segment; third power means to extend and retract said third boom member relative to said outer segment;
and hook means formed at the outer end of said outer segment;
said hook means located behind said roller shaft when said third boom member is in extended position and said first boom member is in an upright position, a sufficient horizontal distance such that a load suspended from said hook means over the load center of gravity can be bodily lifted or lowered by operation of said second power means, with said load clearing said roller shaft.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third boom member is also tubular and wherein said second and third power means each consist of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston unit, the unit forming the second power means located within and secured at its ends to said first boom member and to said inner segment, respectively, the unit forming the third power means located within and secured at its ends to said outer segment and to said outer boom member, respectively.