Patent ID: 8708633
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A shipping container tilting apparatus, the shipping container capable of being transported on a trailer bed, the apparatus including: at least one base section; a first and a second tilt arm, the tilt arms configured to receive the shipping container horizontally directly from the trailer bed with the tilt arms horizontal and the tilt arms configured to support the shipping container without the trailer bed, the first tilt arm including a first main arm section rigidly connected to a first support section, the second tilt arm including a second main arm section rigidly connected to a second support section; a first pivot directly connecting the first support section to the base section, the first pivot located beneath the first main arm section when the first main arm section is horizontal, the first pivot being stationary with respect to the base, the first pivot being offset from the center of the first tilt arm; the first main arm section having a first rear end and a first front end, the first rear end being closer to the first pivot than the first front end; a second pivot directly connecting the second support section to the base section, the second pivot located beneath the second main arm section when the second main arm section is horizontal, the second pivot being stationary with respect to the base, the second pivot being offset from the center of the second tilt arm; the second main arm section having a second rear end and a second front end, the second rear end being closer to the second pivot than the second front end; a first container lock being configured to engage the first rear end with a side wall of the container, and a second container lock being configured to engage the first front end with the side wall; at least one tilt arm drive configured to tilt each tilt arm 90 degrees relative to a support surface used to support the base section, the tilt arm drive connected to the first support section closer to the first front end than the first rear end; the height of the first pivot above the support surface is greater than the distance between the first pivot and the first rear end, when the container is tilted 90 degrees by the drive from the container's horizontal position when the container is received by the tilt arms; and the height of the second pivot above the support surface is greater than the distance between the second pivot and the second rear end, when the container is tilted 90 degrees by the drive from the container's horizontal position when the container is received by the tilt arms.