AU756278B2

AU756278B2 - Load transport vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU756278B2
Application number: AU65513/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Neil James Senior
Original assignee: DEAN JAMES SMITH
Current assignee: Smith Dean James
Priority date: 1998-12-24
Filing date: 1999-12-24
Publication date: 2003-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-24
Also published as: AU6551399A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 *r

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "LOAD TRANSPORT VEHICLES" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: (qr 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a load handling apparatus for vehicles; and to load transport vehicles fitted with such apparatus.

There is a clear need in the courier and transport industries for a small vehicle which can handle single pallet loads up to approximately 1 tonne. At present, transport operators have two options for handling such pallets: loading or unloading the pallet(s) at each end of the journey using forklifts; or transporting the pallets using a truck having a crane or loading tailgate.

Many small businessmen cannot justify the purchase or hire of a forklift; and the capital costs for a truck suitable to support a crane or loading tailgate, and for the crane or tailgate per se, are too high.

One proposed solution is disclosed in International Publication No. WO 94/06711 (PCT/AU93/00490) (Pallet Boss Pty Ltd), where a transport unit was designed to be towed behind a prime S"mover to enable loads to be transported from site to site, over even ~rough terrain. The unit had forks on a carrier frame, raised or lowered by a hydraulic ram, to engage the load. The unit straddled the load with its U-shaped chassis, and as the load could be transported at a low height, the unit was very stable.

While that transport unit was less expensive than the prior art arrangements discussed above, it did not find ready acceptance with many transport operators, who did not wish to have to tow a vehicle, and who found that it could not be used in many situations where only limited access was available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load handling apparatus which can be readily adapted to a light transport vehicle, capable of handling pallets or like loads up to, eg., 1 tonne.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus that is of a convenient size and weight, so that a small commercial vehicle or trailer, when fitted with the apparatus, is capable of safely self-loading or unloading heavy goods, at least equal to the vehicle design load capacity.

ooooo It is a further preferred object to provide an apparatus which is designed to enable the centre of the load to be placed forward of the vehicle rear axle and which enables the load centre to be adjusted if required.

It is a further preferred object of the present invention to o• provide a load transport vehicle fitted with the apparatus.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In one aspect, the present invention resides in a load handling apparatus for vehicles including: a base frame mountable on a chassis or load deck or tray of a vehicle; a mounting frame, mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axis on the base frame; a load engaging assembly mounted on the mounting frame via parallel links, the load engaging assembly includes a substantially vertical back frame, provided with load engaging forks or a load engaging platform; means to raise and lower the load engaging assembly relative to the mounting frame; and S: stabilizing means on the base frame, having ground engaging members to support the vehicle as a load is transferred onto, or from, the vehicle by the apparatus, so arranged that the load is engaged by the load engaging assembly in a first loading or unloading 15 position, and the mounting frame and load engaging assembly are rotated relative to the base frame to a second, loaded, position-, wherein: the stabilizing means includes a transverse beam or tube, at the rear of the base frame, having a ground engaging outrigger foot at each end of the stabilizing beam or tube; one of the outrigger feet is mounted on a secondary beam, telescopically engaged in the stabilizer beam, and selectively Sextendable to one side of the vehicle to counter-act any twisting forces when the mounting frame and load engaging assembly (with the load) are rotated between the first and second positions; and the mounting frame and load engaging assembly are rotatable through 1800 relative to the base frame, where the rotation is restricted so that the load can only extend to one side of the vehicle as it is moved between the first and second positions, to the side of the vehicle on which the telescopically mounted outrigger foot is provided.

Preferably, the base frame includes two or three longitudinal :•.•.beams interconnected by one or more cross-beams, where the base frame :"10 may be bolted, clamped or otherwise fixed to the vehicle chassis or to a load deck or tray.

S: Preferably, the mounting frame is rotatably journalled on a vertical post, and may be rotated by an electric or hydraulic motor, or a chain o :and sprocket drive, eg., rotated by a small hydraulic ram or a hydraulic motor.

Preferably, two pairs of parallel links interconnect the load engaging assembly to the mounting frame, and the load engaging assembly may be raised or lowered relative to the mounting frame by a hydraulic ram, cable or winch apparatus, or like means.

In a second aspect, the present invention resides in a load transport vehicle incorporating, or fitted with, a load handling apparatus hereinbefore described.

6 To enable the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the load handling apparatus fitted to the load tray of a utility, where the load apparatus is shown in an intermediate position in solid lines and in the respective loading and unloading positions in dashed lines (parts being omitted for clarity); FIG. 2 is a side view showing the apparatus with the load handling assembly shown in a raised position in solid lines and in a loading/unloading position in dashed lines; FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the progressive movement of oooos the load handling assembly to the loaded position; FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the load handling apparatus in the intermediate position; S. FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the load handling apparatus in the loaded position; FIG. 6 is a rear, exploded, view of an alternative means to o-rotate the load handling apparatus; and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the rotation means.

Load handling apparatus 10 is adapted to be employed with the load tray 201 of a commercial utility vehicle 200 which may have a load capacity of, eg., 1 tonne.

7 A base frame 10 has a pair of parallel side beams and an intermediate beam connected at their forward ends by a cross-beam, the rearward ends of the beams being interconnected to a tubular stabilizer beam 11, in which is telescopically mounted a secondary stabilizer beam 12. The longitudinal beams, cross-beam and the stabilizer beam 11 may be bolted, clamped or otherwise fixed to the load tray 201.

A first outrigger foot 13 is hingedly mounted at one end of the stabilizer beam 11 and a similar outrigger foot 14 is hingedly mounted at the distal end of the secondary stabilizer beam 12. As shown, particularly in FIG. 4, the outrigger feet 13, 14 support a vehicle 200 if a load is being transferred between the ground and the .oi :load tray 201.

A mounting frame 20 has a rectangular frame 21, with a 15 central tubular member 22 rotatably journalled about a vertical post S 23 on the stabilizer beam 11. A sprocket 24, connected to the tubular member 22, is rotated via a chain 24a by a sprocket 25 in turn rotated by a small hydraulic ram (not shown). As shown in FIG.

the mounting frame can be rotated through 1800, relative to the base frame, between a first loading/unloading position rearwardly of the vehicle 200 and a second, loaded position where the load is over, or supported by, the load tray 200.

(In an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, 8 the mounting frame 20 is rotated by a sprocket 25a, rotated by a hydraulic motor 26 on the mounting frame 20, which is operatively engaged with a sprocket 24a coaxial with, and fixed to, the vertical post 23.) A load engaging assembly 30 has a rectangular back frame 31 with a pair of load engaging forks 32. The back frame 31 is mounted on the mounting frame 20 by two pairs of parallel links 33 and is selectively raised or lowered by a hydraulic ram 34, connected to a small hydraulic pump 35 via suitable hydraulic hoses 36. The hydraulic pump 35 may be provided with its own battery and electric motor, or may have an electric motor operably connected to the battery of the vehicle 200, eg., by "jumper leads".

The load handling apparatus 10 is preferably controlled by a control unit (not shown) which is provided on the side of the vehicle 200 opposite to the side to which the load is swung as it is moved between the first and second positions.

The operation of the unit will now be described.

°The driver positions the vehicle 200 adjacent the load, extends the secondary stabilizing beam 12 and moves the outrigger feet 13, 14 to the ground engaging position, eg., shown in FIG. 4.

The mounting frame 20/load engaging assembly 30 are rotated to extend rearwardly of the vehicle and are lowered to the load engaging position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. Forks 32 engage the load 9 (or pallet) and the ram 34 is operated to raise the load engaging assembly 30 to the position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The secondary ram is operated to rotate the mounting frame (and load engaging assembly 30) through 1800 until the load overlies the load tray 201 (see FIGS. 1 and The ram is operated to lower the load engaging assembly 30 until the load (or pallet) is supported by the base frame or load tray 201.

The outrigger feet 13, 14 are then raised and the secondary stabilizing beam 12 is retracted into the main stabilizing beam 11 and the vehicle is ready to transport the load.

To unload the vehicle, the operation is reversed.

Careful location of the load handling apparatus 10 on the :.:°:vehicle 200 can ensure that the load, when being transported, will be located so that its centre line is not rearward of the centre line of the rear axle of the vehicle 200.

~While the apparatus could be arranged so that the load :can be swung to either side of the vehicle, this would require both •the outrigger feet being supported on respective secondary stabilizer beams 12, which unnecessarily add to the cost.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that a cable and winch, or like raising/lowering mechanism, may be provided in substitution for the ram 34.

It will be further readily apparent to the skilled addressee that a hydraulic motor, electric motor or the like may be provided to rotate the mounting frame 20 relative to the base frame and stabilizing beam 11.

While the hydraulics can be controlled by electrical solenoid valves, smoother operation can be obtained by using manually-operated lever-controlled valves, which allow the operator "finer" touch and control.

As the apparatus can be relatively light, it may only reduce the design load capacity of the vehicle by, eg., 15-25%. The provision of the stabilizers means that the vehicle is stable during the loading/unloading operation and minimises stresses on the vehicle during the operation.

:The base frame 10 may be arranged for permanent ::mounting, eg., to the chassis, load tray or load deck 201 of a vehicle 200 (including a trailer); or may be arranged for easy fitting and removal via mounting clamps or the like.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the ~present invention.

S

Claims

1. A load handling apparatus for vehicles including: a base frame mountable on a chassis or load deck or tray of a vehicle; a mounting frame, mounted for rotation about substantially vertical axis on the base frame; a load engaging assembly mounted on the mounting frame via parallel links, the load engaging assembly includes a substantially vertical back frame, provided with load engaging forks or a load engaging platform; means to raise and lower the load engaging assembly relative to the mounting frame; and stabilizing means on the base frame, having ground 15 engaging members to support the vehicle as a load is transferred onto, or from, the vehicle by the apparatus, so arranged that the load is engaged by the load engaging assembly in a first loading or unloading position, and the mounting frame and load engaging assembly are rotated relative to the base frame to a second, loaded, position., wherein: the stabilizing means includes a transverse beam or tube, at the rear of the base frame, having a ground engaging outrigger foot Sat each end of the stabilizing beam or tube; 12 one of the outrigger feet is mounted on a secondary beam, telescopically engaged in the stabilizer beam, and selectively extendable to one side of the vehicle to counter-act any twisting forces when the mounting frame and load engaging assembly (with the load) are rotated between the first and second positions; the mounting frame and load engaging assembly are rotatable through 1800 relative to the base frame, and where the rotation is restricted so that the load can only extend to one side of the vehicle as it is moved between the first and second positions, being the side of the vehicle on which the telescopically mounted S: outrigger foot is provided.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: the base frame includes two or three longitudinal beams 15 interconnected by one or more cross-beams, and where the base frame is bolted, clamped or otherwise fixed to the vehicle chassis or to a load deck or tray.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein: the mounting frame is rotatably journalled on a vertical post, and is rotated by an electric or hydraulic motor, or a chain and sprocket drive rotated by a small hydraulic ram or a hydraulic motor. 13

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein: two pairs of parallel links interconnect the load engaging assembly to the mounting frame, and the load engaging assembly is raised or lowered relative to the mounting frame by a hydraulic ram, cable or winch apparatus, or like means.

A load transport vehicle incorporating, or fitted with, a ooi t load handling apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to el io

6. A load handling apparatus for vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5; or FIGS. 1 to

7; S. of the accompanying drawings. 15 7. A vehicle incorporating, or fitted with, the road handling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5; or FIGS 1 to 7; of the accompanying drawings. DATED this thirteenth day of September 2002. DEAN JAMES SMITH By his Patent Attorneys S Tc~FISHER ADAMS KELLY 14 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK