GB2298846A

GB2298846A - Load Handling Device

Info

Publication number: GB2298846A
Application number: GB9605626A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Ronald Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-17
Filing date: 1996-03-18
Publication date: 1996-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-18
Also published as: GB2298846B; GB9605626D0

Abstract

A load handling device, particularly for vehicle wheels, comprising a carriage 2 on which the device is movable, a cradle 3 mounted on the carriage for substantially vertical movement, the cradle having a horizontal portion 18 for engaging under the load, and a vertical portion 11 having a front for supporting the load, and means 17 for moving the cradle vertically relative to the carriage, wherein the generally vertical portion of the cradle is formed with an aperture 13 providing safe working access to the load from behind the vertical portion. Preferably, the cradle is telescopically moveable by a jack 17 and the carriage has a height adjustable rear wheel 5.

Description

TITLE: LOAD }1HANDLING DEVICE DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a load handling device and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a load handling device in the nature of a device for supporting and lifting a vehicle wheel, e.g. a lorry or agricultural tractor wheel, to enable such wheels to be changed safely and with efficient use of manpower.

Motor vehicles are heavy and in some cases, such as with agricultural tractor wheels, are weighted to increase traction. Changing or otherwise handling such wheels is thus difficult and dangerous.

It is known to provide a wheel handling device for lifting and supporting motor vehicle wheels comprising a wheeled carriage supporting a wheel embracing member which is vertically movable on a substantially central column.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for lifting and supporting motor vehicle wheels.

According to the invention a load handling device capable of lifting and supporting a motor vehicle wheel has a wheeled carriage, a cradle mounted on the carriage for substantially vertical movement, the cradle having a generally horizontal portion for engaging under the load and a generally vertical portion for supporting the load and means for moving the cradle vertically relative to the carriage, and is characterised in that the generally vertical portion of the cradle is formed with an aperture providing unobstructed access to the load, e.g. the hub of a road or land wheel.

The cradle may comprise a spaced pair of vertical members vertically slidable on guides on the carriage, the vertical members carrying respective horizontal members forming the horizontal portion of the carriage, the pair of vertical members being joined by tie members between which the said access aperture is defined.

The vertical members may be tubular and may be telescopically guided on corresponding vertical projections on the carriage. The means for moving the cradle vertically relative to the carriage may comprise an hydraulic jack.

The carriage may be generally U-shaped with wheels mounted at the ends of the limbs of the U and at a central position at the base of the U. The wheel at the central position is preferably a castor wheel to enable the device to be steered. Preferably the said centre wheel is also vertically adjustable, e.g. with the aid of a jack, so that the device can be lifted.

Preferably the device will be fabricated from squaresection metal tube.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of a road or land wheel handling/lifting device; Figure 2 is a perspective view, from the rear of the device of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a scrap view of a modified form of cradle.

In the drawings there is shown a load handling device specifically intended for lifting and supporting large vehicle wheels such as agricultural tractor and other commercial vehicle wheels. The device 1 comprises a wheeled carriage 2 which carries a vertically moveable cradle 3 which is arranged to engage and support a vehicle wheel (not shown).

The carriage 2 comprises a generally U-shaped frame 7 having a pair of limbs 8 the free or distal ends of which carry ground engaging wheels 4, and a base portion 9 which carries, at a central position, a rear wheel 5 mounted on a jack 6 by which the carriage 2 can be tilted slightly from its normally horizontal position.

The base 9 of the carriage 2 is formed with a pair of upright guides 14 on which the cradle 3 is vertically slidable. The cradle 3 comprises a pair of vertical members 11 which are telescopically received on the respective guides 14 on the carriage 2, the vertical members 11 being connected together by a vertically spaced pair of horizontal ties 12, the members 11 and ties 12 defining between them a rectangular access aperture 13. A generally horizontal fork 18 is secured to the lower ends of the vertical members 11 and comprises a parallel pair of limbs 10 adapted for engagement under a wheel to be lifted.

The upper tie 12 is formed on its front with an abutment or projection 19 for supporting the side of the wheel to be lifted. Security chains 15 are mounted on the members 11 on lugs 16 and are arranged to engage around a wheel supported on the cradle 2 to prevent accidental displacement of the wheel from the cradle.

An hydraulic jack 17 is mounted on the base 9 of the carriage 2 and engages the lowermost of the ties 12 whereby the cradle 3 can be raised to lift a wheel so that the wheel can be handled, e.g. in fitting or removing the wheel from a vehicle. Such handling of the vehicle wheel is facilitated by the access aperture 13 which provides unobstructed access to the hub of the wheel and thus the associated wheel nuts or the like with the operator being protected from injury by the surrounding frame of the cradle which forms a safety cage for the operator.

Figure 3 is an end view of a limb 10 of the fork 18 and showing that the limbs 10 of the fork 18 may carry rollers 20 extending lengthwise of the limbs 10 to facilitate rotation of a wheel carried by the fork to enable the operator easily to align the wheel with the associated vehicle wheel hub. As shown in the drawing it is preferred that a parallel pair of the rollers 20 is mounted on a carrier 21 on each limb 10, each carrier 21 being pivotally mounted on the limbs 10 for movement about an axis 22 extending parallel with the respective limbs 10 whereby the pairs of rollers 20 can self align with the wheel supported on the fork 10.

The invention thus provides a simple and relatively inexpensive vehicle wheel lifting and handling apparatus particularly adapted for large wheels associated with commercial vehicles and agricultural tractors and the like, and which facilitates safe working conditions.

Claims

1. A load handling device comprising a carriage on which the device is movable, a cradle mounted on the carriage for substantially vertical movement, the cradle having a generally horizontal portion for engaging under the load, and a generally vertical portion having a front for supporting the load, and means for moving the cradle vertically relative to the carriage, wherein the generally vertical portion of the cradle is formed with an aperture providing safe working access to the load from behind the generally vertical portion.

2. A load handling device according to claim 1, wherein the cradle comprise a spaced pair of vertical members vertically slidable on guides on the carriage, the vertical members carrying respective horizontal members forming the horizontal portion of the carriage, and the pair of vertical members being joined by tie members between which the said access aperture is defined.

3. A load handling device according to claim 2, wherein the vertical members are telescopically slidable on corresponding vertical guide projections on the carriage.

4. A load handling device according to claim 2 or claim 3, comprising rollers on the respective horizontal members to facilitate adjustment of the load on the horizontal portion.

5. A load handling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for moving the cradle vertically relative to the carriage comprises an hydraulic jack.

6. A load handling device according to any preceding claim, wherein the carriage comprises a generally U-shaped member with ground engaging wheels mounted at the distal ends of the limbs of the member and at a central position at the base of the member.

7. A load handling device according to claim 6, wherein the said central wheel is vertically adjustable.

8. A load handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

9. A vehicle wheel handling device comprising a load handling device as claimed in any preceding claim.