GB2064487A - Improved load handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A load handling apparatus includes a vehicle (1), a pair of mounting frames (2A, 2B) each hingedly mounting a pedestal (3A, 3B) for movement from an inoperative position, in which the pedestals are folded down horizontally about hinges (4A, 4B) so as to lie lengthwise of the vehicle, to an operative upright position. Each pedestal mounts a respective transverse foldable track (9A', 9B') which in use extends horizontally and on which a respective carriage (10A, 10B) is movable. Each carriage mounts a vertical telescopic mast (11A, 11B) with a head (13A, 13B) and chains (14A), such that telescopic operation of the masts raises or lowers top lift beams (6) for handling a load (17). The apparatus includes laterally movable jacks (7A, 7B) for use as stabilisers. In the inoperative position with the pedestals, tracks and masts folded down horizontally and lengthwise, the vehicle is of compact height and width. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved load handling apparatus This invention relates to load handling apparatus. Containerisation of goods for transport is well known and widely used, and there are already known various forms of apparatus for loading and unloading containers, for example from and to road vehicles (trucks) and rail vehicles (wagons).

Although this invention is primarily concerned with the handling of containers, it is not limited to that use and may be applied to the handling of other loads. Also, although the invention will be described herein by way of example as relating to load handling apparatus including a railway vehicle, it is not limited to a railway vehicle, and may instead apply to road or other vehicles, for example hovercraft.

It is an object of this invention to provide load handling apparatus which includes a railway wagon or other vehicle and will allow ready handling of a container, and yet which will be of limited overall size, so as to enable a rail vehicle for instance to operate over normal rail tracks within their normal limits as to height and width.

According to this invention load handling apparatus comprises a vehicle and mechanism mounted on the vehicle for raising and lowering a load and for moving the load laterally of the vehicle, the said mechanism including at least one base member which is upright when in its operative load handling position, characterised in that the or each base member is movable angularly downwards from its operative position into an inoperative position in which the or each base member extends horizontally in the length direction of the vehicle.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of container handling apparatus including a railway wagon (which could be self-propelled); the apparatus is shown in its inoperative, folded-down position; Figure 2 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing the apparatus in an intermediate stage of the unfolding; Figure 4 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the apparatus in its operative, fully unfolded position and carrying a container; Figure 6 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing one container being stacked on another container which has already been placed on the ground;; Figure 8 is another view similar to Figure 6 but showing the apparatus being used for transferring a container from a railway wagon to a road vehicle or vice versa; and Figure 9 is a diagrammatic underneath plan view, with parts broken away, showing a pair of beams, with load connecting devices and operating rams.

Referring to the drawings, a railway wagon 1 carries at each end an upstanding frame 2A, 2B each from mounting a base member on pedestal 3A, 3B by means of a hinge 4A, 4B. Each pedestal 3A, 3B is movable angularly downwards from an upright operative load-handling position (Figures 4 to 8) into an inoperative folded down position (Figs.

1 and 2) by pairs of hydraulic rams 5A, 5B. In the inoperative position each pedestal 3A, 3B extends horizontally in the length direction of the wagon 1.

As Figure 1 shows, a top lift beam or beams 6 may be carried lengthwise between the frames 2A, 2B.

Also shown diagrammatically are two pairs of hydraulic jacks 7A, 7B (one pair at each end of the wagon) which are carried inboard (Figures 1 and 2) when the vehicle is travelling, but are moved outboard for stabilising the apparatus when in use (see Figures 3 to 8). These jacks are mounted so as to be telescopicaliy movable inboard and outboard (see Figures 2, 4 and 6) so that they can be moved outboard to a required distance for maximum stability of the apparatus. In Figures 5 and 6 the jacks are shown extended outboard, but vertically retracted; in these Figures it is assumed that the wagon 1 is travelling only a short distance, for example in a railway yard, for moving a container from one location to another, without the need to move the jacks fully inboard.In a modified embodiment, the jacks 7A, 7B are omitted and are replaced by suitable counterweights movably mounted on laterally extending beams. Thus when a container is moved laterally of the wagon 1 , the counterweights are moved laterally in the opposite direction, to the amount necessary to stabilise the load. This modified embodiment avoids the need for site preparation, which is sometimes required when using the jacks 7A, 7B.

Each pedestal 3A, 3B mounts at its end (which is the upper end when upright) load lifting mechanism in the form of a track and crane structure, comprising a central fixed tracked beam 8A, 8B with oppositely foldable track members 9A', 9B'. In Figures 1 to 4 these track and crane structures are shown in their folded state. Figure 4 also shows in dashed lines the unfolded state, in which the track members are lowered, to form a continuous horizontal trackway adjacent each end of the wagon 1, see also Figures 5 to 8.

Mounted to run on the trackways are respective cranes each having a carriage 1 or, 1 OB on which is mounted load supporting means including a telescopically extensible mast 1 A, 1 B and a beam or beams 6. Each crane can be propelled (by known mechanism not shown) along its respective trackway, to assume any required position, see Figures 7 and 8. Each crane has a lower portion 1 2A, 1 2B and a head portion 1 3A, 1 3B, the head portions carrying pulleys (not shown) over which run chains 1 4A, 1 4B (one pair for each crane).

Each chain is anchored at one end to a respective carriage 1 OA, 1 OB and at the other end is connected to a top lift beam 6 by means of a hydraulic ram 1 5A, 1 SB (Figure 5) for taking up the slack of the chains, as may be required during some operating conditions. These rams have their piston rods 1 6A, 1 6B extending oppositely and inwardly as shown and the chains are anchored to the free ends 1 6C of the piston rods. The chains run over pulleys on the beams 6, Figure 5.

To lift the beams 6 from the Figure 3 position to a first lifted position, the masts 1 A, 1 B are telescopically upwardly extended to raise the chains sufficiently to lift the beams. To lift the beams further, for example to the position shown at the right of Figure 7, the masts are extended telescopically still further. Although a telescoping mast arrangement is described above, it would also be possible to use a crane having a winch. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and are not intended to show the various movements accurately.

Figures 1 and 2 show the inoperative, travel state of the apparatus. Figure 3 shows the stationary position, with the pedestals 3A, 3B raised up, with the track members 9A' and 9B' not folded down, and with the jacks 7A, 7B moved out laterally and extended downwards (see also Figure 4) and with ground engaging stabiliserfeet 7A', 7B'. These feet may be carried on the wagon and then be placed in the positions shown when required. Figure 4 also shOws the stationary position, and indicates how the tracked extensions are swung outwardly and downwardly into their horizontal operative positions.

Figures 5 and 6 show that the masts 1 A, 1 B have been telescopically extended to raise the beams 6 high enough to extend lengthwise over a long container 17, which is attached to the beams for lifting or lowering by load connecting devices in the form of twist-lock devices 1 8. These Figures also show that the jacks 7A, 7B have been retracted whilst still outboard, to lift the feet 7A', 7B' up from the ground, so that the wagon 1 with the container 17 can be moved from one location to another in a railway goods yard, for example.

Also Figure 5 shows the piston rods 1 6A, 1 6B fully extended to keep the chains 1 4A, 1 4B tight.

Figure 7 shows that the apparatus can be operated, by raising the beams 6 still higher (with retraction as necessary of the rams 1 5A, 1 5B), to load a second container 19 on top of the container 17 which has already been placed on the ground, or alternatively to remove the container 19 from the container 1 7.

Figure 8 shows that the apparatus can be used to transfer a container 1 7 from a railway wagon 20 to a road vehicle 21, by raising the container with the crane structures in the left hand position shown, then moving the carriages 1 OA, 1 OB across the track members 9A', 9B' to the right hand position shown in dashed lines, and finally lowering the container on to the vehicle 21.

Although Figure 5 shows a long container, the apparatus of the invention can be modified to handle shorter containers. The beams 6 can form part of a unitary frame below which are mounted spaced parallel cross beams, mounted by rollers or slides for movement lengthwise of the wagon 1.

These parallel cross beams are of sufficient transverse length to extend completely across a container, which would be attached to them by known twist-lock connections. The parallel cross beams are adjustably movable towards or away from one another, according to the size of a container to be handled. One suitable mechanism for carrying out this adjusting movement is shown in Figure 9 and comprises a cross-head 30, mounted by rollers or slides (not shown) for movement along and below the beams 6, and two pairs of hydraulic rams 31, 32 with their cylinders 31 A, 32A mounted on the cross-head 30. These four rams extend parallel to each other and parallel to the beams 6, and are spaced apart in the transverse direction, one beside another, as shown.The two piston rods 33 of one pair of rams 31 extend in one direction, with the outer ends of the rods connected to one parallel cross beam 34, while the two piston rods 35 of the other pair of rams 32 extend in the other direction, with the outer ends of the rods connected to the other parallel cross beam 36. With piston strokes of appropriate length and with selective operation of the pairs of rams, a variety of spacings of the two parallel cross beams 34, 36 can be achieved, according to the size of a container. This mechanism permits precise adjustment of the locations of the parallel cross beams. Thus, it is possible to set the parallel cross beams at a particular spacing, for example for a short container, and then to move the whole as a unit along the beams 6 to a precise location, for loading or unloading the container at a particular place.Since the hydraulic rams are in pairs, the cross beams can always be maintained parallel.

In another embodiment, a top lift beam structure could be designed for operation with a single size of a container only, and yet provide for lengthwise manipulation of the container to a required location.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention has various advantages, some of which are as follows: Due to the lengthwise position of the pedestals and cranes in the inoperative position (Figure 1) they occupy space within the limits permitted by normal railway practice. At the same time they permit a top lift beam or beams also to be stowed on the wagon 1. The wagon can therefore travel on a railway in the normal manner.

Due to the fact that the crane structure trackways, in their operative position, are at the top of the pedestals, they are above a load to be lifted, which is therefore approached from above by the beams 6 and the associated lifting gear.

This avoids the need for space to be left between longitudinally adjacent containers which are to be lifted, for example. In other words, if there is a row of say three containers lying closely end to end on the ground beside a railway track, the present apparatus can be moved alongside the central container and lift it, despite the fact that there are no spaces between the three adjacent containers.

The crane structure trackways in effect constitute cantilevers which extend out over a load or loads, see for instance Figure 8, and thus do not require any outboard supports or legs. In general the weight of the load handling apparatus which includes the wagon or other vehicle, would be sufficient to counteract the weight of a load being lifted, but if necessary additional ballast could be incorporated.

Although in the embodiment described above there are shown track members 9A' and 9B' extending in both lateral directions, it would be possible to design the apparatus with a track member extending to one side only of the apparatus, in applications where double-sided operation was not required. Another variation of the track members is that each could be a laterally telescopically collapsible structure, rather than an angularly upwardly and downwardly movable structure as described above.

Claims (11)

1. Load handling apparatus comprising a vehicle and means mounted on the vehicle for raising and lowering a load and for moving the load laterally of the vehicle, the said means including at least one base member which is substantially upright when in an operative loadhandling position, wherein the or each base member is movable from the upright operative load-handling position into an inoperative position in which the or each base member extends in the length direction of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each base member is movable angularly downwards from the operative position into the inoperative position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each base member extends substantially horizontally in the inoperative position.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the or each base member is pivotally mounted on a frame upstanding from the vehicle.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein load lifting mechanism is mounted on the or each base member and comprises a pair of oppositely foldable track members, a carriage, and load supporting means carried by the carriage, the track members being mounted on the base member for angular movement from an inoperative position aligned with the base member into an operative position in which they extend horizontally oppositely from the base member and in which operative position the carriage is movable horizontally and laterally of the vehicle on a track member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 having two base members, each adjacent a respective end of the vehicle, wherein the load supporting means comprises a load carrying beam or beams extending lengthwise of the vehicle, the beam or beams being suspended from the carriages and movable laterally of the vehicle with the carriages.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the or each base member includes a track portion which, in the operative position of the track members, constitutes with the track members a single continuous trackway.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4 having two base members each adjacent a respective end of the vehicle, wherein, in its inoperative position, each base member extends substantially horizontally towards the other base member in the length direction of the vehicle, with one or more than one load carrying beam being disposed on the vehicle below the level of the base members and extending in the said length direction.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 8 having two load carrying beams, spaced load connecting devices slidably mounted on the beams, and rams mounted by the beams and connected to the load connecting devices, such that by operation of the rams the connecting devices can be adjustably moved along the beams.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 having four parallel rams, two of the rams having piston rods extending in one direction lengthwise of the beams and the other two rams having piston rods extending in the opposite direction lengthwise of the beams.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the rams are mounted on a crosshead which is movably carried by the beams.

1 2. Apparatus according to any preceding claim including jacks at each side of the vehicle, each jack being movable laterally inward and outward of the vehicle and each jack also having a portion movable vertically for engagement with, or retraction from, a support surface.

1 3. Load handling apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.