Patent ID: 6309153
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
An improved transportation system for intermodal containers, each of the containers having corner fittings located at each outside corner of said container, at a standardized spacing for engagement with complementary complementary devices of lifting apparatus for the containers, said containers including full size containers and partial size containers, and the complementary devices of said lifting apparatus including engagement devices spaced for engaging a plurality of said partial size containers at one time, and further comprising a temporary support vehicle operable to carry said full length containers without engaging the corner fittings thereof, whereby the full length containers and said partial size containers are supportable when placed approximately on said temporary support vehicle, the improvement comprising:said temporary support vehicle having a container support arrangement with deployable engagement devices at said standardized spacing, that are limited to fixing positions of said partial size containers relative to one another, the deployable engagement devices engaging each of the partial size containers at two points so as to relatively position the partial size containers to complement the lifting apparatus.