GB2370556A

GB2370556A - A track and bogey loading system for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2370556A
Application number: GB0111802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Noel O'mahoney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-23
Filing date: 2001-05-15
Publication date: 2002-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-15
Also published as: IE20010470A1; IES20000396A2; GB0111802D0; GB2370556B

Abstract

A loading system for positioning goods at specific locations within a vehicle. Comprises at least one travel or roller track 2 fixed to the vehicle floor with at least one bogey/pallet (6, fig.2) that runs on or in said travel track 2. The roller track 2 comprises a plurality of rollers 3 fixed within and partially protruding above the track. A guide 4 is provided extending along the length of the tracks 2 to aid the bogey (6) in its travel direction. A safety barrier 5 is positioned at the vehicle drivers cab end of the tracks 2. A securing means 12 and (9, fig.2) are used to secure the bogey(s)(6) to one another and the track. Preferably the travel track 2 can be a 'u' channel (fig.6) with the rollers (17, fig.7) being mounted on the bogey (6, fig.7) which run in the track 2. Preferably the track system has a pivotable mounting system (80, fig.11) to store the system in a vertical position. It also has a two part loading system perpendicular to one another for side and rear loading via extendable ramps from the vehicle.

Description

Title A loading system for vehicles Field of the Invention The invention relates to a loading system for vehicles and in particular to a roller system for the interior of commercial vehicles such as lorries and vans, the roller system adapted to facilitate the movement of heavy goods within the vehicle. By the term commercial vehicle is meant vans, articulated trucks and any other similar road vehicle, and the term loading is meant to also include unloading.

Background to the Invention It is well known to transport goods within commercial vehicles such as vans and trucks. The goods are typically mounted on pallets, and the loaded pallets then loaded through the side and rear doors of the van. A forklift is typically used to place the loaded pallet at the door of the van and the pallet is then pushed manually to a specific location within the van. Such manual manoeuvring of the heavy pallet is both tiresome and difficult for a single user, and also delays the loading and un-loading of the vehicle during deliveries. It further may cause damage to the van in that the brakes, gearbox, wheel arches and doors may be damaged during the loading and unloading procedure.

Known systems for unloading goods from the interior portion of a goods vehicle include bogey systems which are telescopic and may be adapted to be positioned within the vehicle and extended to a specific location within the unloading area. Such devices are only designed for light articles, and are particularly useful for unloading large containers, but are not suitable for unloading or manoeuvring pallets or the like.

Other known loading ! unloading systems include the mounting of the individual pallets on roller bogeys and wheeling the mounted pallet to a specific location within the vehicle. Problems associated with such apparatus include the difficulty of securing the roller mounted pallet within the vehicle during transportation.

Roller systems for positioning pallets within train stock cars and aircraft are known and described in, for example, US 5, 618, 139 and US 5, 865, 579. These apparatuses allow pallets having indented peripheries to roll over the loading bed and to be locked in position on the bed. They are specifically designed for single location loading and not intended for rolling pallets along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Further examples of roller systems include that described in US 4,543, 027 which describes a roller pallet system for rolling vehicles onto a train. The described prior art comprises complicated engineering which is not designed for incorporation into normal commercial transport vehicles.

There, therefore, exists a need for an apparatus which may be fitted within a commercial vehicle and which allows for the manoeuvring of pallets or the like within the vehicle, while at the same time allows for the securing of individual pallets at specific locations.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a loading system for fitting in the interior of commercial vehicles, the system adapted to allow the positioning of transported goods within the vehicle.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly the invention provides a loading system for mounting within a vehicle floor and for positioning goods at specific locations within the vehicle, the system comprising: at least one travel track, the track being fixable to the floor of the vehicle and adapted to co-operate with at least one bogey, the bogey being moveable along the track, and securing means adapted to secure the bogey at specific locations along the track.

The movement of the bogey along the track is preferably effected by the provision of roller means on either the track or the co-operating bogey.

The roller means may comprise a plurality of independently moveable wheels mounted within and aligned along the axis of the track, at least a portion of the independently moveable wheels projecting above the track thereby enabling a mounted bogey to move along the travel track.

In an embodiment of the invention wherein the rollers are provided within the travel tracks, the system may further comprise guide means adapted to maintain and guide the bogey in a predetermined line of travel along the track. The guide means preferably comprise at least one guide track located substantially parallel to the roller means mounted within the travel track, the guide track adapted to co-operate with guide wheels on the bogey, the interengagement of the guide track and guide wheels maintaining the bogey in a predetermined line of travel along the travel track.

The bogey may be adapted to receive a pallet or an alternative load. The bogey may alternatively be a loaded pallet.

Alternatively the roller means comprises at least one set of wheels mounted on the bogey, the travel track being adapted to receive the wheels of the wheel mounted bogey, thereby providing a guide for the independently moveable bogey within the vehicle.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the movement of the bogey along the travel track is effected by a combination of both types of roller means defined above.

The system preferably also includes at least one safety barrier located substantially perpendicular to and extending upwardly from the travel track, the safety barrier adapted to prevent the travel of a bogey into a driver cab of the vehicle.

The system may additionally include securing means, adapted to secure specific bogeys at specific locations within the vehicle. Preferably, the securing means is adapted to secure adjacent bogeys to one another.

Covers may additionally be provided, the covers adapted to cover the tracks when the system is not in use.

In an alternative embodiment the invention provides a loading arrangement comprising a first loading system and a second loading system; the first and second loading systems being substantially perpendicular to one another so as to allow the loading of goods through side and rear doors of a vehicle.

The tracks are, in one embodiment, pivotably mountable to the floor of the vehicle, the mounting arrangement enabling a movement of the tracks from an active position wherein the tracks extend along the floor of the vehicle and a non-active position wherein the tracks may be pivot away from the floor and are securable against the wall of the vehicle, thereby enabling a use of the vehicle without the tracks.

The system may be further adapted to provide moveable loading means, the loading means adapted to enable a loading of the vehicle, the loading means being moveable to a loading position wherein it projects beyond the interior of the vehicle, providing a ramp to the interior of the vehicle, the adoption of the loading position enabling a user to place goods to be positioned within the vehicle onto the loading means and effect a movement of the goods to the interior of the vehicle.

The invention also provides a system substantially as hereinafter described with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a track system accordingly to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bogey combination for use with the tract of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detail of guide means of the bogey of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a detail of the bogey locking system shown in Figure 2, Figure 5 is a detail of a latch mechanism shown in Figure 1, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cover, Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a front view of the embodiment of Figure 7, Figure 10 is a detail of the wheel mechanism of the second embodiment, and Figure 11 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention Detailed Description of the Drawings Figures 1 to 6 shows a system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The system 1 illustrated comprises two travel or roller tracks 2, mounted substantially parallel to one another. The roller tracks comprises a plurality of rollers 3, the rollers being mounted along the axis of the rollers tracks and being free to rotate independently of one another. A guide bar 4 is provided, the guide bar 4 extending along the length of the roller tracks 2, and also being securable against the floor of the vehicle.

When mounted within a vehicle, the roller tracks are preferably mounted so as to extend from the rear door of the vehicle, location A, along the length of the vehicle so as to abut against the interior portion of the driver cab, location B. A safety system 5 is provided at location B to prevent any possible movement of loaded goods along the roller tracks into the driver's cab. Preferably a catch mechanism 12 is provided at the safety system, the mechanism 12 being engageable with a pallet/bogey combination adjacent to the safety system. Typically, as shown in Figure 5, such as mechanism is spring loaded so as to automatically engage with a bogey/pallet combination on abutment of the combination against the mechanism 12.

As shown in Figure 2 the system also comprises at least one bogey 6. The bogey is dimensioned so as to be slideable along the roller tracks. Each bogey 6 is preferably also of a suitable size to accommodate a standard pallet of known typical dimensions.

The bogey 5 suitably also comprises a guide bar 7 having guide wheels 8, as shown in Figure 3. The position of the guide bar 7 of the bogey 6 is such that when the bogey 7 is positioned correctly on the track system that the guide wheels 8 are co-operable with the guide bar 4 of the lain track system.

The bogey 7 also suitably comprises a securing, latching or locking mechanism 9, so as to enable abutting bogeys to be lockable against one another. As shown in Figure 4, the locking mechanism 9 comprises a locking bar 10 adapted to engage with locking members 11 on each bogey. The locking bar 10 is typically threaded so as to allow a user to adjust the position of engagement of adjacent bogeys 6.

In use a pallet (not shown) is positioned to the entry door of the vehicle, using a fork lift or alternative method. The pallet is positioned onto a bogey which is then rolled to a final transport position, usually against the safety bars 5, wherein it engages with the catch mechanism 12 and is secured in position. If further pallets require loading then the process is repeated until no more bogeys can fit on the roller tracks 2. The positioned bogeys are locked in position using the locking mechanism 9, and the outermost bogey is also prevented from easily rolling towards the door of the vehicle by the provision of a stop mechanism 13 at the end of the roller tracks 2. The movement of the bogey along the rollers is constrained by the guide means so that any possible lateral movement of the bogey against side walls of the vehicle is prevented. The provision of the guide means enables a user to quickly position a loaded bogey at its final location. When the first bogey is loaded it may be pushed along the track system to a final locking position without fear of it moving or abutting against interior portions of the van during movement. This is a quick and efficient system that obviates the need to direct the bogey to the locking position, while ensuring that it does not damage any portion of the vehicle during transportation. Furthermore, as the movement is restricted along the rollers to a movement along the axis of presentation of the bogey to the vehicle there is only a requirement to lock the bogey so as to prevent movement along this axis.

Typically the roller tracks 2 and guide bar 4 are installed in the vehicle permanently, with the bogeys being removable. Such a removable system allows the

vehicle user to use such a roller system in situations where pallets require transportation but also allows the transportation of non-pallet type or sized goods. In such situation it is preferable to protect the rollers 3 and this may be achieved by positioning a roller protection cover 14, shown in Figure 6, over the roller tracks 2.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although described with reference to an independently loadable bogey that the system of this embodiment is suitable for receiving boxes of containers of goods, the dimensions of which are suitable to co-operate with the rollers on the rollers tracks. Alternatively, a pallet loaded with transportable goods may be used directly with this first embodiment, the pallet effecting the position of the bogey.

Figures 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the roller system. Figure 7 is a plan view and shows that in this embodiment two sets (four tracks in total) of travel tracks are provided. The two sets are separable into an inner 15 and outer set 16. The travel tracks are adapted to receive an independently moveable bogey, the movement of the bogey along the tracks being effected by the travel of wheels 17 mounted on the bogey within the travel track 15,16 (shown in detail in Figure 10). This differs to that described with reference to the first embodiment in that there are no rollers provided within the travel tracks. As the movement of the bogey is constrained by the movement of the wheels within the channel of the travel tracks, no additional guide means are required, and the advantages of the guide means as detailed above are equally applicable in this embodiment. The outer set 16 is adapted to receive a bogey 18 which is at a higher elevation than the corresponding bogey 19 for the inner set. As shown in Figure 9 this allows the overlap of the two types of bogeys 18,19. Although illustrated with reference to an overlap system having inner and outer tracks, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the inclusion of wheels onto the bogey can be used with a single set of tracks equally well. Similarly to that described with reference to the first embodiment a safety system 20 is provided to prevent the travel of the bogey into a driver's cab. The loading and unloading of a vehicle having this second embodiment is similar to that of the operation of the first embodiment.

Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention wherein a loading ramp 50 is provided. This ramp is extendible out of the vehicle and facilitates the loading and unloading in situations where a forklift or similar type of loading arrangement is not possible. The ramp 50 is moveable to a loading position wherein a portion extends rearwardly from the track system, once extended the ramp is pivotable so that its distal region 51 is positionable on the ground, thereby providing an inclined surface for the user to load the interior of the vehicle.

Also shown in Figure 11 is an adaptation of the system of the present invention to enable both rear and side loading of a vehicle. In some transportation vehicles it is possible to load pallets or similar items through a side door as well as a rear door. The system of the present invention can be adapted to cater for such vehicles by the provision of two track loading systems; a first system 60 extending rearwardly from the rear access doors (not shown), and a second system 61, substantially perpendicular to the first system and allowing for an introduction of goods through the side door (not shown). Both systems 60,61 may be provided with a ramp loading means 50 to allow for loading the vehicle. It will be appreciated that as the two systems are mutually perpendicular that it is not possible for a bogey to roll from the first system to the second system, each system providing a self contained and independently operable loading arrangement.

Figure 11 also shows the provision of a pivotable mounting arrangement 80 adapted to enable a movement of the tracks away from the floor of the vehicle to a location adjacent the side walls. The arrangement 80 comprises a base portion 81 securely connectable to the floor of the vehicle and a pivot arm 82 pivotably connectable to the base portion. In use, the pivot arm 81 is connected to the track system 15,16, and the movement of the pivot arm away from the floor of the vehicle effects a similar movement of the track system. This may be used to fold or position the track system away from the base of the vehicle in situations where it is not suitable to utilise the loading system of the present invention.

The provision of a loading system according to the present invention has numerous advantages over known transport systems. The movement of goods within the vehicle is easier, requiring less effort and reduced time. Further it may be achieved by a single person and as the movement of the goods within the vehicle is constrained, there is less likelihood of damage to the vehicle.

The words"comprises/comprising"and the words"having/including"when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A loading system for positioning goods at specific locations within a vehicle, the system comprising: at least one travel track, the track being fixable to the floor of the vehicle and adapted to co-operate with at least one bogey, the bogey being moveable along the track, and securing means adapted to secure the bogey at specific locations along the track.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement of the bogey along the track is effected by the provision of roller means located between the track and the cooperating bogey.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the roller means comprises a plurality of independently moveable wheels mounted within and aligned along the axis of the track, at least a portion of the independently moveable wheels projecting above the track thereby enabling a mounted bogey to move along the travel track

4. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the roller means comprises at least one set of wheels mounted on the bogey, the travel track being adapted to receive the wheels of the wheel mounted bogey, thereby providing a guide for the independently moveable bogey within the vehicle.

5. The system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising guide means adapted to maintain and guide the bogey in a predetermined line of travel along the track.

6 The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the guide means comprise at least one guide track located substantially parallel to the roller means mounted within the travel track, the guide track adapted to co-operate with guide wheels on the bogey, the interengagement of the guide track and guide wheels maintaining the bogey in a predetermined line of travel along the travel track.

7. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bogey is adapted to receive a pallet or an alternative load.

8. The system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising at least one safety barrier located substantially perpendicular to the travel track, the safety barrier adapted to prevent the travel of a bogey into a driver cab of the vehicle.

9. The system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising securing means, adapted to secure specific bogeys at specific locations within the vehicle.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the securing means is adapted to secure adjacent bogeys to one another.

11. The system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising moveable loading means, the loading means adapted to enable a loading of the vehicle, the loading means being moveable to a loading position wherein it projects beyond the interior of the vehicle, providing a ramp to the interior of the vehicle, the adoption of the loading position enabling a user to place goods to be positioned within the vehicle onto the loading means and effect a movement of the goods to the interior of the vehicle.

12. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one track is pivotably mountable to the floor of the vehicle, the mounting arrangement enabling a movement of the tracks from an active position wherein the tracks extend along the floor of the vehicle and a non-active position wherein the tracks may be pivot away from the floor and are securable against the wall of the vehicle, thereby enabling a use of the vehicle without the tracks.

13. A loading arrangement comprising a first loading system and a second loading system, each system as claimed in any preceding claim, the first and second loading systems being substantially perpendicular to one another so as to allow the loading of goods through side and rear doors of a vehicle.

14. A loading system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 or 7 to 10 or 11 of the accompanying drawings.