Patent ID: 7311487
Filing Date: 2007-12-25
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. An assembly to move a load carrying structure over a base surface from a first location to a second location, the load carrying structure having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and vertical axis, a first and second structure end portions, said end portions spaced along the longitudinal axis, a load carrying platform section with one or more load carrying platforms, the load carrying platform section having a front end portion, a rear end portion, arranged around the longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axis, each structure end portion having first and second support members, said first and second support members of each structure end portion being at the corresponding first and second transversely spaced base support locations, said platform section having a first load carrying region bounded by lateral, front, and rear delimiting lines which coincide generally with vertically upward projections of two longitudinally extending lines from the first base support locations to the second base support locations, said platform section carrying a load or loads positioned so that the load carrying structure and the load or loads collectively have a center of gravity which is within said load carrying region, said first and second support members engaging said base surface at the base support locations to support the loads held within the load carrying region, in its base engaging position the assembly comprising: a. at least four wheeled transport units, a first two wheeled transport units of which are arranged to be positioned at two transversely spaced transport positions corresponding to said first structure end portion, and a second two wheeled transport units of which are arranged to be positioned at two transversely spaced transport positions corresponding to said second structure end portion; b. said wheeled transport units being arranged so that with the four wheeled transport units located in their transport positions and bearing against the base surface, the load carrying structure is in a transport position with the first and second support members of each of the first and second structure end portions being out of contact with the base surface; c. a lifting component comprising at least a first and second lift unit, said lifting component being arranged in a manner that with the support structure being positioned with both of the first support members and both of the second support members engaging the base surface, said first lift unit or said second lift unit is able to be positioned at either the first and second structure end portions to raise that structure end portion to a first higher level where the related two wheeled transport units can be located in the transport locations or removed from the transport positions, and the lift unit can be lowered so that the lift unit can be removed from either of the first and second structure end portions with the structure being in either its transport position or its base engaging position.