Patent ID: 7074004
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A device to be operably engaged with a transport vehicle so as to be capable of loading a container onto the vehicle from a container-supporting surface, unloading the container from the vehicle to the container-supporting surface, and cooperating with the vehicle to transport the container, the transport vehicle having a vehicle frame with a forward end and a rearward end between which the container is supported when the container is loaded onto and transported by the vehicle, the vehicle frame being configured such that a widthwise dimension of the container is greater than a widthwise dimension of the vehicle frame, said device comprising: a vertical movement device having a vertically-movable member capable of vertical movements relative to the vehicle frame; a pair of horizontal lifting members each having an unsupported rearward end and a forward end which is operably engaged with the vertically-movable member of the vertical movement device to move the lifting members the vertically in response to vertical movements of the vertically-movable member between (1) a raised position wherein the lifting members are spaced above the vehicle frame, and (2) a lowered position wherein the lifting members are positioned below the vehicle frame adjacent the container-supporting surface, and (3) a resting position between the raised and lowered positions; a spacing device operatively connecting the forward ends of the lifting members to the vertical movement device for moving the lifting members laterally towards and away from one another between a stowed position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is less than the widthwise dimension of the container and positionable adjacent the vehicle frame, and a lifting position wherein the lifting members are separated by a distance which is greater than the widthwise dimension of the container; tethers capable of being operatively engaged between the container and each of the lifting members, the tethers securing the lifting members to the container so that the lifting members support the container via the tethers; and a translatory device adapted for operable association with the vehicle frame and configured to support the lifting members and the container supported thereby via the tethers, wherein the translatory device is operably connected to the vertical movement device so as to longitudinally move the vertical movement device between a transport position wherein the container is located forwardly of a vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame, and a loading/unloading position wherein the container is located rearwardly of the vertical plane defined by the rearward end of the vehicle frame; wherein during transport of the container on the vehicle frame, the lifting members are in the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame so as to be positioned below the container; and wherein during unloading of the container from the vehicle frame to the container-supporting surface, the lifting members are moved by the spacing device laterally from the stowed position to the lifting position and while in the lifting position with the tethers operatively engaged between the lifting members and the container, the lifting members are moved by the vertically-movable member from the resting position to the raised position so that the container is raised above the vehicle frame, and while in the raised position the translatory member longitudinally moves the container from the transport position thereof to the loading/unloading position thereof, whereafter the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container supported thereby via the tethers from the raised position to the lowered position thereof, whereby the container is lowered to the container-supporting surface, and wherein during loading of the container onto the vehicle frame from the container-supporting surface, the vertically-movable member is operable to vertically move the lifting arms and the container from the lowered position thereof to the raised position thereof to raise the container from the container-supporting surface, and while in the raised position the translatory device is operable to longitudinally move the vertical movement device from the loading/unloading position to the transport position, the vertically-movable member being operable so as to lower the container onto the vehicle frame by movement of the lifting arms to the resting position thereof, whereafter the spacing device is operable to laterally move the lifting members into the stowed position adjacent the vehicle frame below the container.