GB1031603A - Handling freight containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,031,603. Vehicle loading systems. J. BRIDGE. Oct. 9, 1963 [Oct. 24, 1962], No. 39771/63. Heading B8E. [Also in Division E2] To enable a load container 21 to be transferred between a carrier vehicle 20 and a fixed support 22, a trolley 35 movable in a guideway extending lengthwise of the vehicle is engageable with the container 21 so that, when the vehicle, support and container are in the relative positions shown, movement of the vehicle away from the support causes relative movement of the trolley 35 and its guideway and so allows the container 21 to be run off the vehicle. The unloading procedure (Figs. 8a to 8f, not shown) consists in first raising the rear end of the vehicle-by use of jacks 26 acting between the chassis and the rear axle 27 or by groundengaging jacks 64 (Fig. 12, not shown)-so that the rear end of the container can be run over the support 22 by reversing the vehicle. The jacks are then lowered to engage depressions 24 on the underside of the container with complementary protrusions 23 on the support. When only the front end of the container is supported on the rear end of the vehicle, the latter is again raised by the jacks to enable supporting props (which may be fold-down struts hinged to the underside of the container) to take the load of the container front end and so allow the vehicle to be once again lowered and driven away. Loading (Figs. 8 g to 8k, not shown) is by the reverse procedure. The means for interengaging the trolley 35 and the container are of the same form as the protrusion-and-depression 23, 24 described above. So also is the means 40, 43 for securing the loaded container to the vehicle, but in this case the protrusion portion is carried by a member 43 connected to the linkwork 45. This is operated automatically on relative movement of the container and vehicle to or from the position shown and may be held in the locked condition shown, by a latch 47. A vehicle-and-trailer combination, in which both the vehicle and the trailer (Fig. 14, not shown) are equipped as described above, may be provided.