GB2555792A - Lifting mechanism for a double-deck container for transportation of goods - Google Patents

Abstract

A double deck container, such as a trailer 1, for the transportation of goods has a front end and a rear end and a lower deck 4. The container 1 further comprises a movable upper deck 9 and a plurality of lifting mechanisms 35 for lifting the upper deck. At least one lifting mechanism 35 is arranged at the front and/or rear end of the container. The upper deck 9 of the container 1 may be provided by a basket 9 comprising a base 10 and two side walls, the sidewalls comprising rails 13 connected to the base 10 by a plurality of cross members 14 forming triangular units. Also disclosed is a container for transportation of goods which comprises sidewalls 8 comprising a load-securing joining strip 45, the load-securing joining strip 45 comprising connection means for connection to side panels, attaching means for attachment to goods, and one or more cavities to receive flush-fitting interior lights 50 and/or other ancillary items.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Lifting mechanism for a double-deck container for transportation of goods Abstract Title: Lifting mechanism for a double-deck container for transportation of goods (57) A double deck container, such as a trailer 1, for the transportation of goods has a front end and a rear end and a lower deck 4. The container 1 further comprises a movable upper deck 9 and a plurality of lifting mechanisms 35 for lifting the upper deck. At least one lifting mechanism 35 is arranged at the front and/or rear end of the container.

The upper deck 9 of the container 1 may be provided by a basket 9 comprising a base 10 and two side walls, the sidewalls comprising rails 13 connected to the base 10 by a plurality of cross members 14 forming triangular units. Also disclosed is a container for transportation of goods which comprises sidewalls 8 comprising a load-securing joining strip 45, the load-securing joining strip 45 comprising connection means for connection to side panels, attaching means for attachment to goods, and one or more cavities to receive flush-fitting interior lights 50 and/or other ancillary items.

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Lifting mechanism for a double-deck container for transportation of goods

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lifting mechanism for a double deck container for transportation of goods, in particular a trailer (especially a semi-trailer), 5 or a truck/van body, but it could also be applicable to an intermodal container or the like. The invention also relates to a container for transportation of goods, in particular a trailer, especially a semi-trailer comprising such a lifting mechanism for lifting the second (upper) deck.

Background to the Invention

Various kinds of double deck trailers are known. They have an advantage over conventional (single deck) trailers in that they allow the full height of a trailer to be used, because a second deck is provided above the first deck, or floor. Fixed deck trailers have both decks fixed in position, these are therefore inflexible in terms of the height of goods they can accept - they cannot be taller than the highest of the two 15 decks. Ratchet deck trailers have an upper deck that can be moved to different heights by a forklift truck and held in position. These are more suitable for carrying tall loads, as the height is adjustable, but the necessity to use a forklift truck is inconvenient.

Lifting deck trailers are also known, in which the upper deck can be moved to different heights, generally by hydraulic cylinders, acting either directly on the deck, 20 or via a system of pulleys and cables. These are more convenient.

Second (upper) decks can be a simple flat deck extending across the trailer between sidewalls, or can be provided as “baskets”, having sidewalls extending upward from the deck and sitting adjacent the side walls of the trailer, and normally a front wall, extending upward from the deck and sitting adjacent the front wall of the trailer. A gate can be provided at the rear, to complete the four sides of the basket, but this is optional, and the expression “basket” is used even for a shape with open ends.

In lifting-deck trailers, lifting mechanisms are carefully arranged to balance the deck, hydraulic lifting mechanisms are normally positioned on each side at about a quarter to a third of the distance from the front of the deck and a quarter to a third from the back of the deck, as shown for example in GB2533917. This allows goods in front of and behind the lifting mechanisms to balance out the weight of goods between the lifting mechanisms (and vice versa), so that the deck does not bow.

Cable based lifting mechanisms, tend to include a number of cables attached to the moveable deck along its length, to achieve the same result - holding the deck sufficiently securely and preventing any significant bowing.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a double deck container for transportation of goods, the container having a front end and a rear end and a lower deck (or floor); the container further comprising a moveable upper deck;

the container further comprising a plurality of lifting mechanisms for lifting the upper deck; wherein at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the front and/or rear end of the container.

By this arrangement, the upper deck can be supported at its ends. This can improve weight distribution between the lifting mechanisms when an uneven load is placed on the moveable upper deck. For example, a load placed entirely in front of the foremost lifting mechanisms in a conventional lifting deck trailer would only bear downwards on the two foremost lifting mechanisms, not those at the rear, whereas with a lifting mechanism arranged at the front of the container, a load, even arranged at the front of the deck will be behind the front lifting mechanism(s) and will thus be shared between the front and rear lifting mechanisms. The same is true of at the rear with a moveable upper deck supported by lifting mechanism, in that weight of goods would necessarily be in front of the rear lifting mechanism and therefore shared by lifting mechanisms forward thereof.

Moreover, providing the lifting mechanisms at the front and/or rear of the container means that a greater width of the container is available for the deck (as it does not need to be inward of the lifting mechanisms). Whilst only a few inches of width is added, this can lead to much improved loading capability; notably where the container is a trailer, the entire length of a deck can have a useable width as wide as possible, for example at least 2000mm, or at least 2400mm, indeed, as wide as 2425mm whilst keeping within the maximum width requirement for the entire trailer, which in the UK is 2.55 metres for non-refrigerated trailer, or 2.6 metres for refrigerated vehicles to allow for insulation. A width of greater than 2400mm allows standard pallets (of 1200 x 1000 mm) to be arranged with their longer sides across the width of the trailer along the entire length of the deck, such that two standard pallets side-by-side take up only lm along the length, rather than 1.2m in the conventional arrangement, and each deck can hold 12 pallets per 6m of length, rather than 5 pallets in the same 6m.

At least one lifting mechanism may be arranged at the front end of the container and may be arranged in the front 10%, the front 5% or the front 1% and/or may be arranged substantially in front of the moveable upper deck and/or may be attached to the front wall of the container.

At least one lifting mechanism may be provided at the rear end of the container. The or each lifting mechanism arranged at the rear of the trailer may be arranged in the rear 10% or the rear 5% of the trailer and/or may be attached to the rear of the moveable deck and/or arranged substantially behind the moveable deck.

Preferably at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the front of the 10 container and at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the rear of the container.

With this arrangement, if the lifting mechanisms become misaligned (e.g. if lifting mechanisms at the front travel further than those at the rear, or vice versa), the deck will go out of tilt less, because of the greater distance between the lifting mechanisms, which are arranged at the extremities of the trailer. This makes it less likely that guides/slides guiding the deck as it rises and falls will become stuck, and thus allows tighter tolerances in guides/slides improving the stability of the upper deck.

Providing lifting mechanisms at the front and/or at the back of the deck (preferably both), rather than at its sides means that a greater width of the trailer is 20 available for the deck (as it does not need to be inward of the lifting mechanisms).

This can lead to substantial improvements in load-carrying ability as set out below.

At least two lifting mechanisms may be provided at the front end of the container. The lifting mechanisms at the front end of the container may be arranged one either side of a centreline of the container. Slides may be provided at the front end of the container towards either side, in order to further stabilise the deck.

Two lifting mechanisms may be provided at the rear of the container.

The lifting mechanisms at the rear of the container may be provided towards the comers of the container, i.e. at the rear, towards its sides.

Arranging the lifting mechanisms at the rear towards the corners of the container also makes loading the container from the rear relatively straightforward, as a large opening can still be provided at the rear.

Each lifting mechanism may comprise an actuator, such as a hydraulic 10 cylinder (or alternatively a pneumatic actuator), with at least one rod extendible from at least one barrel. The actuators may be the actuators described in GB2533917; that is to say, one or more lifting mechanisms, or at least the front lifting mechanisms may comprise a plurality of barrels arranged side-by-side, each with a rod extendible therefrom; the rods extending in opposite directions.

These twin side-by-side rams can be fitted at the front, where a single ram would not fit in the space envelope.

The container may have a lifting roof, as set out in GB2533917.

One end of each actuator may be connected to a structural element of the container, such as the lower deck and the other end of the actuator may be connected 20 to the moveable upper deck.

One or more lifting mechanism, for example each rear lifting mechanism, may comprise a guide, such as a vertically extending channel and a slide, slideable in the guide so as to constrain the moveable deck longitudinally and/or laterally as it is raised and lowered.

The rear lifting mechanisms may comprise guides, and the front lifting mechanisms may be free of guides and directly connected to the upper deck. This 5 gives a smooth action when the deck is raised and lowered.

There may be no other lifting mechanisms, only the front and rear lifting mechanisms.

This arrangement allows totally unobstructed space for the pallets or whatever else is transported. Normally people have to work around the pillar obstructions, plus people hit the pillars with the pallets or roll cages when they load a trailer. By providing lifting mechanisms only at the front and the rear this industry problem is solved.

The upper deck of the container may be provided by a basket comprising a base and two sidewalls extending between a front and a rear of the basket; wherein 15 the sidewalls comprise rails spaced from the base, and a plurality of cross-members extending between the rails and the base, so as to form triangular units.

The provision of cross members which together with the rails and the base form triangular units, results in the sidewalls having the structure of a truss.

This is a means of obtaining a basket that is much more rigid than a 20 conventional basket, in which the base, uprights and rails form rectangular units. A more rigid basket obtained by one means or another is key to allowing the lifting mechanisms to be placed at the front and the back of the deck, rather than at its sides, because an ordinary deck would be more susceptible to bowing, if only supported at its ends.

The base may comprise a floor, onto which goods may be loaded and unloaded and may comprise brackets connecting to the floor and to the cross members

A plurality of cross members may be angled. The cross members, the rails and the base may form one or more isosceles triangular units (i.e. substantially isosceles triangular units) or equilateral triangular units (i.e. substantially equilateral triangular units).

A plurality of cross members may be perpendicular to the rails and the base 10 and a plurality of cross members may be angled. The cross members, the rails and the base may form one or more right-angled triangular units (i.e. substantially rightangled triangular units).

The cross members, the rails and the floor may form equilateral and rightangled triangles.

The cross members, the rails and the base may form right-angled triangles at a central region. The cross members, the rails and the base of the sidewalls may also form equilateral triangles a central region.

The cross members, the rails and the base may form equilateral triangles at front and/or rear regions. The sidewalls may comprise a region (optionally front and/or rear regions), where the cross members, the rails and the base do not form right angled triangles.

Equilateral triangular units, formed by cross members extending at approximately 60 degrees from the rails and/or base are optimal in terms of minimising weight.

The addition of perpendicular cross members extending between the base and 5 the rails at the apices triangles, where the angled cross members meet, can form rightangled triangles and add further strength in this region. This is particularly useful where the basket is supported at its ends, because the central region is under the most stress.

The rails may be parallel (i.e. substantially parallel) to the base.

The basket may comprise a front wall.

The load width of the moveable upper deck (i.e. the useable width on which goods may be loaded) may be at least 2400mm or at least 2400mm, for example about

2425mm.

The width of each sidewall may be less than 75mm, less than 50mm or less than 30mm.

Each sidewall may comprise at least ten triangular units, or at least 15 triangular units. Each sidewall may comprise at least ten equilateral triangular units or at least 15 equilateral triangular units. At least five, or at least ten equilateral triangular units may be split by perpendicular cross members so as to form at least ten, or at least 20 right-angled triangles.

The rails of the two sidewalls may be connected together by one or more rigid struts. This further improves the rigidity of the basket.

The rigid struts may be formed as one or more load separators, for example two load separators one arranged between a quarter and half way from the front of the basket and the other arranged between a quarter and half way from the rear of the basket, e.g. one arrange about a third of the way along the basket and the other arranged about two thirds of the way along the basket.

The or each load separator may be formed by a gate. The or each gate may be hingebly attached to one sidewall and connectable to the other side wall. The or each gate may be hingeably attached at the top and bottom to one sidewall and connectable at the top and/or bottom to the other sidewall.

The or each load separator may be formed with a top and bottom rail joined by cross members. The cross members, and the top and bottom rails may form triangular units, which may be equilateral, isosceles or right-angled.

The floor of the basket may have a depth of no more than 100mm, or no more than 75mm, for example 60mm (i.e. about 60mm) or 50mm (i.e. about 50mm).

The double deck container may have a roof.

The double deck container may be a lifting-deck trailer which may be a semitrailer, optionally a wedge-shaped trailer, such as a mega-trailer, which increases in internal height from front to rear.

The container may have no supporting pillars for supporting the basket from 20 substantially the front to substantially the rear.

The basket may be supported only at the front and the rear.

The invention also extends to a container for transportation of goods (which may be a trailer, in particular a lifting-deck trailer which may be a semi-trailer, optionally a wedge-shaped trailer, such as a mega-trailer, which increases in internal height from front to rear and may comprise any of the optional features mentioned above), which comprises sidewalls comprising a load-securing joining strip, the loadsecuring joining strip comprising connection means, such as ears, for connection to side panels, attachment means, such as apertures, for attachment of goods, and one or more cavities to receive flush-fitting interior lights and/or other ancillary items.

The load-securing joining strip may comprise stops extending from the strip 10 arranged to abut side panels. The stops may be parallel and spaced apart by at least 30mm, for example at least 60mm, such as about 90mm. In this way, the cavities can extend into the space between the panel stops.

Normally, a load securing joining strip is T-shaped in cross section, with a single panel stop extending between two panels which abut it, ears extending in front of and parallel to the inside of the panels and apertures formed in the inside-face. In consequence it cannot be recessed, as the panel is directly behind the ears. The inventive arrangement spaces the panels such that cavities can extend into the space between the panels, allowing interior lights and other ancillary items to be flush with the inside surface, or even set-back therefrom. This improves use of space and reduces the likelihood of knocking into and damaging the items in the cavities.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view from the side through a trailer with an upper deck in the raised position;

shows the cross sectional view of figure 1 with the upper deck in the lowered position;

shows a side view of the basket of the trailer of figures 1 and 2;

shows a plan view of the basket of figure 3;

shows a cross section of the basket along the line G-G in figure 3;

shows a front view of the basket of figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view looking along the length of the trailer of figures 1, 2 and 6 towards the front, with the basket not shown.;

Figure 8 shows an enlarged cross sectional view of the rear of the trailer of 15 figure 1 with the deck in the lowered position;

Figure 9 shows the cross sectional view of figure 8 with the upper deck in the raised position;

Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view looking vertically though the guiding mechanism though which the lifting mechanism shown in figures 8 and 9 is connected to the upper deck;

Figure 11a shows a perspective view of the lifting mechanism shown in figure 10, including the guiding mechanism;

Figure lib shows a side view of the lifting mechanism and guiding mechanism shown in figure 11a;

Figure 11c shows an end view of the lifting mechanism and guiding mechanism shown in figure 11a and figure lib;

Figure lid shows the other side view of the lifting mechanism and guiding mechanism shown in figure 1 lb;

Figure lie shows another perspective view of the lifting mechanism and guiding mechanism shown in figures 1 la-d;

Figure 12 shows an enlarged view of the inside of the side wall of the trailer of 10 figure 1, in the region of a joining strip;

Figure 13 shows a cross section of the side wall of the trailer looking along its length in the region of the joining strip; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged view of the front of the trailer as shown in figure 2.

With reference to the figures, a trailer 1, which is a type of container for 15 transportation of goods is shown. The trailer 1 is a semi-trailer of the type know in the art as a wedge-shaped mega-trailer.

The trailer 1 has a chassis 2, to which wheels 3 are connected and a lower deck, or floor 4 onto which goods may be loaded. Vertically opposite (in normal use) the floor 4, is a roof 5 and the roof 5 and floor 4 diverge towards the rear of the trailer 20 1, such that the trailer 1 has a wedge-shape. The rear of the trailer 1 is closeable with doors 6 or shutters, whereas the front of the trailer 1 is closed by a front wall, or bulkhead” 7.

A pair of sidewalls 8 extend from the front to the rear of the trailer 1, either side of the floor 4 and the roof 5, so as to form an enclosed container. The sidewalls 8 of this embodiment are hard, formed for example from plastics material, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that aspects of the invention could equally apply to curtain-sided trailers.

The trailer 1 also comprises an upper, or second, deck provided by a basket 9. The basket 9 comprises a base, made up of a floor 10, which in this embodiment is formed of a number of sheets of non-slip resin-coated/impregnated chipboard material, mounted upon support rungs 12 attached to two brackets 11, each running the length of the basket 9 from front to rear. The depth of the floor 10, including the rungs 12 is about 60mm.

The basket 9 comprises two sidewalls extending from front to rear, and made up of rails 13, which run parallel to the base and are spaced (vertically in normal use) therefrom and cross-members 14 connecting the rails 13 to the brackets 11 of the base.

The rungs 12, rails 13, brackets 11 and cross members 14 are all made of suitable structural materials, for example metal, such as steel, and as shown in figures 1 and 2, the rails 13 of this embodiment are provided with a series of apertures 58 along their length on the inside, for attaching a load.

Triangular units are formed by the cross-members 14, and either the rails 13 or the base, such that the sidewalls have the structure of a truss.

This means that the basket is much more rigid than a conventional basket.

Some (indeed most) of the cross members 14 are angled cross members 14;

i.e. they do not extend perpendicularly to either the base or the rails 13, but rather they extend at an angle to them. To be precise, in the embodiment, each sidewall comprises 18 angled cross members 14, each extending at 60 degrees to the rail 13 and the base and apart from at the ends, each extending at 60 degrees from another crossmember at the apex of a triangular unit. In this way, 17 equilateral triangular units are formed along each sidewall.

Additionally, a plurality of cross members 14 are perpendicular cross members 14, which are provided perpendicular to the rails 14 and the base (which in this embodiment are parallel). In this embodiment, nine perpendicular cross members 14 are provided, each extending from an apex of an equilateral triangular unit 9 (i.e.

the region where two angular cross-members 14 meet, which is either at the base, or at the rail 13).

These perpendicular cross members 14 are arranged centrally, to provide 15 additional stiffness in the central region, and thereby split each of the nine most central equilateral triangular units into two right-angled triangles, each having an angle of 90 degrees where the perpendicular cross member 14 meets the base or rail 13, an angle of 30 degrees between the perpendicular cross member 14 and the angled cross member 14 and an angle of 60 degrees between the angled cross member 14 and the base/rail 13.

At front and/or rear regions (in the four equilateral triangular units to the front and rear), there are no perpendicular cross members 14 extending from the apices of equilateral cross members 14.

The length of the basket 9 corresponds to that of the trailer 1, into which it must fit, and may for example be 10 metres; the load width of the basket, i.e. the useable width on which goods may be loaded, inboard of the sidewalls is at least

2000mm in this embodiment, indeed it is more than 2400mm, at about 2425mm.

And, in the embodiment, the width of each side wall is 30mm, so the total width of the basket is 2485mm and it fits within a trailer 1 of the standard (maximum allowable) width of 2550mm.

As best seen in figure 5, the rails 13 of the two sidewalls are connected together by gates 16, which when closed are effectively rigid struts, bracing the basket

9.

The gates 16 are formed with upper and lower rails 17, 18, connected together by uprights 20 and cross-members 19, forming equilateral triangular units and (with the uprights) right-angled triangular units on each side.

On one side, the gates 16 are connected to a sidewall by hinges 21 on a 15 gatepost 22 attached to a sidewall. On the other side, the gate is releaseably attachable via a latch 23 to the rail 13 of the opposing sidewall. As can be seen from figures 3 and 4, the gates 16 are arranged about two-thirds and one-third along the length of the basket, to provide additional rigidity in the central region.

The gates, apart from acting as struts, operate as load separators and may be 20 formed in the same manner as other components of the basket 9, i.e. in metal, such as steel, welded/bolted as appropriate.

At its foremost end, again visible in figure 4, but best seen in figure 6, the basket 9 further comprises a front wall 24, whereas at the rear (to allow loading), the basket has no rear wall, but is provided with uprights 25 at the end of each wall, so as to allow access at the rear.

The front wall 24 of the basket comprises attachment points, in the form of clevises 26 welded near the top thereof in the centre of each side of the front wall (i.e. 5 about one quarter and three quarters of the way across the front wall 24, for direct connection to the rams of a lifting mechanism described in detail below.

On the other hand, the uprights 26 at the rear of the trailer, are provided with brackets 27 for connection to a lifting mechanism via a guide mechanism (described in detail below. The front wall of this embodiment comprises slots 28 towards each side, which could be used to run along rails, if required, but no such runners are provided in the present embodiment.

The basket is provided with no other connections for lifting mechanisms except at the front (clevises 26) and rear (brackets 27). In consequence, no cables, or pillars are required along the side of the trailer 1. This allows totally unobstructed space for the pallets or whatever else is transported. Normally people have to work around the pillar obstructions, plus people hit the pillars with the pallets or roll cages when they load the trailer. Whilst described in relation to a hard-sided trailer 1, it will be appreciated that this would ease loading if embodied in a curtain-sided trailer.

Turning to the detail of the lifting mechanisms and their arrangement, as best seen in figure 7, the lifting mechanisms 35 at the front of the trailer 1 are each attached to the front wall 7 of the trailer 1 by brackets 29 and each is made up of a pair of barrels 30 in side-by side configuration, with one rod 31 arranged to extend out from the bottom of a barrel 30 and one rod 32 arranged to extend out of the top of the other barrel 30, in response to hydraulic actuation. Each rod 31 that extends out of the bottom of the barrel 30 is fixedly connected to the floor 4 of the trailer 1 at its base, whereas each rod 32 that extends out of the top of a barrel 30 is attached to a clevis 26 at the front of the basket 9.

In this manner, the lifting mechanisms 35 which lift the front of the basket 9 are arranged in a front region of the trailer, in particular within the front 25%, more precisely the front 10% and indeed the front 5%, being arranged in the front 1% of the trailer 1, substantially in front of the moveable deck embodied by the basket 9, and not at the sides of the basket 9.

The two front lifting mechanisms 35 are arranged on either side of the centreline of the trailer, about half way between the centreline and each side (i.e. about one quarter and three quarters of the way across the front wall 7.

In this arrangement, slides are not provided at the front end of the trailer 1 towards either side, in order to further stabilise the deck, the arrangement of the lifting mechanisms 35 alone holds the basket 9 sufficiently stably. However, locking mechanisms 33 (of a type well known in the art) are provided attached to the front wall 7 outwardly of each lifting mechanism 35, in order to extend rearwardly beneath the basket 9 when it is lifted, to support the basket 9 in the event of failure of one or more of the lifting mechanisms 35.

Similar lifting mechanisms 34 are provided at the rear of the container 1 as best seen in figures 8 and 9. Again, these lifting mechanisms 34 are arranged in the rear 25% of the trailer, more precisely the rear 10%, and indeed the rear 5%, being arranged in the rear 3% of the trailer 1; in front of the doors 6, but entirely behind the basket 9.

In order to avoid obstructing access through the rear of the trailer 1, the lifting mechanisms 34 at the rear of the trailer 1 are arranged in its back corners, i.e. at the 5 back and adjacent one side and the other. The lifting mechanisms 34 at the rear of the trailer 1 are of the same type as those at the front, with two barrels 36 arranged side by side, one rod 37 extendible from the bottom of one barrel 36 and attached to the floor 4 of the trailer 1, and the other rod 38 extendible from the top of the other barrel

36.

Rather than connecting directly to the basket 9 via a clevis attached thereto, the rear lifting mechanisms are attached to the moveable upper deck via a guide mechanism 39. Thus, each top rod 38, which extends upward from its barrel 36 to lift the basket 9 is connected at a connection point to a clevis 40 to a slide 41; and as best seen from figure 10 (a cross section of the guide mechanism, not showing the connection to the clevis, which would be on the right hand side of the figure), the slide 41 of this embodiment comprises axles 42 with wheels 43 arranged thereon, either side of the body of the slide 41 and arranged within a pair of opposing vertically extending guide channels 44 in a guide attached to a structural element, in this case a frame 45 at the rear of the trailer 1. Each slide 41 has two sets of wheels

43, an upper set, arranged at around the height of the rail 13 of the basket, and a lower set, arranged at around the height of the base of the basket.

On the opposite side of the guide to the connection to the rear lifting mechanisms 34, the slides 41 are each provided with connection brackets 46, for connection (via nuts and bolts, for example) to the brackets 27 at the rear of the side walls of the basket 9. The guide mechanism, in particular the distance between the wheels 43 and the channels 44 in which they run, allows the degree of movement fore and aft and from side to side to be fine-tuned, so as to avoid excessive swaying, but allow for the moveable deck to flex slightly, or move slightly when an unbalanced load is placed thereon.

The lifting mechanisms being placed at the front and the back of the deck, rather than at its sides means that a greater width of the trailer is available for the deck (as it does not need to be inward of the lifting mechanisms).

Whilst only a few inches of width is added, this can lead to much improved loading capability; notably, the entire length of a deck can be more than 2 metres wide and as wide as 2425mm whilst keeping within the maximum width requirement for the entire trailer, which in the UK is 2.55 metres for non-refrigerated trailer, or 2.6 metres for refrigerated vehicles to allow for insulation. A width of greater than

2400mm allows standard pallets (of 1200 x 1000 mm) to be arranged with their longer sides across the width of the trailer along the entire length of the deck, such that two standard pallets side-by-side take up only lm along the length, rather than 1.2m in the conventional arrangement, and each deck can hold 12 pallets per 6m of length, rather than 5 pallets in the same 6m.

As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, and is shown in more detail in figures 12 and 13, the load-securing joining strip 45 in the sidewalls 8 is taller than normal. This is because, whereas conventional load securing joining strips, are T-shaped, with a single panel-stop, extending between two panels which abut it and ears extending in front of and parallel to the inside of the panels, the load-securing joining strip 45 of this embodiment has a two-part construction, with a first part 52 (outer part in this embodiment) having a cross section (as seen in figure 13) shaped more like the pi symbol (π). That is to say, the load-securing joining strip 45 of the invention has two parallel (upper and lower) panel stops 46, ears 47 extending perpendicular to the panel stops upward and downward with respect to the trailer 1 in its normal orientation, and a web 48 extending between the ears 47 connecting the panel stops 46, so as to form a flat surface 49 together with the ears 47. The panel stops 46 are spaced apart by about 90mm to form a cavity of approximately that height, along the sidewall 8 of the trailer

1.

The load-securing joining stflp 45 joins an upper panel 50 of a side wall 8 to a lower panel 51 with a cavity therebetween, by connection of the ears 47 to the upper and lower panels 50, 51 (e.g. with screws, not shown). A second part, or inner plate 53 is provided on the inside of the side wall 8, running along the length of the trailer, so as to form an enclosed cavity, between the panel stops 46, the web 48 and the inner plate 53. The inner plate 53 comprises attachment means 54 in the form of apertures for the attachment of goods.

Lights 55 are fitted in the cavity of each load-secunng joining strip 45 at intervals spaced along the length of the trailer 1, and cover plates 56 with apertures 57 therein, through which light can pass are attached over the lights 55, such that the lights are substantially flush with the inside surface of the trailer 1, in fact, set back slightly therefrom, but with their cover plates just extending into the space, but only by a couple of millimetres. Other ancillary items could also be placed in the cavity formed in the sidewall 8.

In use, the basket 9 is initially placed in the lowered position shown in figure 2 and the trailer is reversed to a loading bay set to the height of the floor 10 of the basket 9. Goods are then loaded onto the basket 9 through the gap between the rear lifting mechanisms 34, optionally on pallets (not shown) arranged side-by-side with their long axis transverse to the trailer 1 and their short axis parallel with its length. The goods/pallets may be attached to the attachment means in the form of apertures 58 in the rails 13, and once the region in front of the first gate 16 is filled, it may be closed to separate that front area, and to provide additional stiffness to the basket 9. More goods are then introduced behind the first gate 16 and in front of the second gate 16, before it is closed and further goods are introduced behind it. The basket 9 is then raised, by actuating the front and rear lift mechanisms 35, 34, so as extend the rods 31, 32, 37, 38 from their respective barrels 30, 36. As set out above, the upper deck is supported at its corners. This improves weight distribution between the lifting mechanisms 34, 35 when an uneven load is placed on the moveable upper deck and 15 means that if the lifting mechanisms become misaligned, the deck will go out of tilt less.

Further goods can then be introduced below the upper deck and attached to the attachment points 54 on the load-securing joining strip 45 that runs along the length of the trailer 1. Once the trailer 1 reaches its destination, the goods are unloaded by reversing this method, taking goods off from the back of the lower deck, then lowering the basket 9 and removing goods from it. Obviously, in a curtain-sided embodiment of the invention, goods could be loaded from the side, and obviously goods could be loaded directly onto the upper deck in the raised position, if a loading bay was set at the appropriate height.

The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (36)

1. A double deck container for transportation of goods, the container having a front end and a rear end and a lower deck; the container further comprising a moveable upper deck; the container further comprising a plurality of lifting 5 mechanisms for lifting the upper deck; wherein at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the front and/or rear end of the container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the front end of the container, in the front 5% of the trailer.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is

10 arranged substantially in front of the moveable upper deck.

4. A container according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is attached to the front wall of the container.

5. A container according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is provided at the rear end of the container in the rear 5% of the

15 trailer.

6. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is attached to the rear of the moveable deck.

7. A container according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is arranged substantially behind the moveable deck.

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8. A container according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the front of the container and at least one lifting mechanism is arranged at the rear of the container.

9. A container according to any preceding claim wherein at least two lifting mechanisms are provided at the front end of the container.

10. A container according to claim 9 wherein the at least two lifting mechanisms at the front end of the container are arranged one either side of a centreline of the container.

11. A container according to any preceding claim wherein slides are provided at

5 the front end of the container towards either side, in order to further stabilise the deck.

12. A container according to any preceding claim wherein two lifting mechanisms are provided at the rear of the container.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein the lifting mechanisms at the rear

10 of the container are provided at the rear, towards the sides of the container.

14. A container according to any preceding claim wherein one or more, or each lifting mechanism comprises an actuator.

15. A container according to claim 14 wherein each actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, with at least one rod extendible from at least one barrel.

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16. A container according to claim 15 wherein each actuator comprises a plurality of barrels arranged side-by-side, each with a rod extendible therefrom; the rods extending in opposite directions.

17. A container according to any of claims 14 to 16 wherein one end of each actuator is connected to a structural element of the container and the other end

20 of the actuator is connected to the moveable upper deck.

18. A container according to any preceding claim wherein one or more lifting mechanism comprises a guide, such as a vertically extending channel and a slide, slideable in the guide so as to constrain the moveable deck longitudinally and/or laterally as it is raised and lowered.

19. A container according to claim 8 or any of claims 9-18 when dependent, directly, or indirectly, thereon, wherein the or each rear lifting mechanism comprise guides, and the or each front lifting mechanism is free of guides and directly connected to the upper deck.

5 20. A container according to claim 8 or any of claims 9-19 when dependent thereon, wherein there are no other lifting mechanisms, only the front and rear lifting mechanisms.

21. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the upper deck of the container is provided by a basket comprising a base and two sidewalls

10 extending between a front and a rear of the basket; wherein the sidewalls comprise rails spaced from the base, and a plurality of cross-members extending between the rails and the base, so as to form triangular units.

22. A container according to claim 21 wherein a plurality of cross members are angled and the cross members, the rails and the base form one or more 15 isosceles triangular units or equilateral triangular units.

23. A container according to claim 21 or 23 comprising a plurality of cross members which are perpendicular to the rails and the base and a plurality of cross members which are angled, whereby the cross members, the rails and the base form one or more right-angled triangular units.

20 24. A container according to any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the cross members, the rails and the base form right-angled triangles and equilateral triangles at a central region and comprise front and/or rear regions where the cross members, the rails and the base do not form right angled triangles.

25. A container according to any of claims 21 to 24 wherein the rails are parallel to the base and/or the basket comprises a front wall.

26. A container according to any of claims 21 to 25 wherein the width of each sidewall is less than 50mm.

5

27. A container according to any of claims 21 to 26 wherein the rails of the two sidewalls may be connected together by one or more rigid struts in the form of load-separating gates.

28. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the load width of the moveable upper deck is at least 2400mm.

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29. A container according to any preceding claim having no supporting pillars for supporting the moveable upper deck from substantially the front to substantially the rear.

30. A container according to claim 29 wherein the moveable upper deck is supported only at the front and the rear.

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31. A container according to any preceding claim, which comprises sidewalls comprising a load-securing joining strip, the load-securing joining strip comprising connection means for connection to side panels, attachment means, for attachment of goods, and one or more cavities to receive flushfitting interior lights and/or other ancillary items.

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32. A container for transportation of goods, which comprises sidewalls comprising a load-securing joining strip, the load-securing joining strip comprising connection means for connection to side panels, attachment means, for attachment of goods, and one or more cavities to receive flush-fitting interior lights and/or other ancillary items.

33. A container according to claim 31 or 32 wherein the connection means are ears.

34. A container according to claim 31, 32 or 33 wherein the attachment means are apertures.

5

35. A container according to any of claims 31 to 34 wherein the load-securing joining strip comprises stops extending from the strip arranged to abut side panels.

36. A container according to claim 35 wherein the stops are parallel and spaced apart by at least 60mm, such that the cavities can extend into the space

10 between the panel stops.

37. A container according to any preceding claim comprising a roof.

38. A container according to any preceding claim which is a lifting-deck trailer.

39. A trailer according to claim 30 which is a semi-trailer.

40. A container, a basket or a loading strip substantially as described herein with

15 reference to the drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1618855.9