Pallet transport system

Apparatus easily engageable to a standard pallet or skid of the type commonly utilized in the storage and shipment of bulk items and quantities. A plurality of adaptable wheel dollies, each having a fixed support member to engage the interior of the pallet may be arrayed at the corners of the pallet. Dolly adjustment devices enable each dolly, when engaged to a pallet lying flush upon a flat surface, to raise the pallet for transport by means of the wheels of the dolly. An A-frame tongue is engageable to a pair of dollies to join the pallet transport system to tow the system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to means for facilitating the transfer of large bulk 
items and loads and, in particular, a means which may be simply and 
removably adapted to a pallet, skid or the like upon which said items are 
commonly stored or placed for transport. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Present day warehousing and related storage of bulk items and loads 
commonly involves the placement of such upon a substantially flat platform 
for later transport. Such platforms are commonly denominated "shipping 
skids" or "pallets". Often it is desired to transport items only a short 
distance, to rearrange a warehouse's storage area or to move goods from 
storage to a loading dock or the like. A long distance journey on a truck, 
train, airplane, boat or combination therefore, may ensue in which the 
items remain unitized upon the original pallet. The utility of such a 
platform lies in its ability to unify a multitude of items, such as 
cartons, into a coherent, although bulky mass. Such a mass may be handled 
efficiently with the aid of standard transport equipment, such as fork 
lifts, where an unwieldy number of smaller units requires excessive 
man-hours of handling and, hence, excessive cost. 
Another advantage of the use of such pallets lies in their generally 
standardized construction and design. An otherwise awkwardly shaped bulk 
item, when fixed to a pallet, gains a standardized base by which the 
pallet may be handled and transported. 
Apparatus primarily utilized for the present-day transport of pallets and 
attached items include the well-known fork lift truck. These are small 
factory-based trucks with protruding lifting arms or forks at the front. 
The forks may engage a pallet with articles thereon to elevate the pallet 
from floor level and move the pallet with its load of articles thereon 
from one warehouse location to another. Often, the limited warehouse space 
availability makes the use of a fork lift truck disadvantageous. Like an 
ordinary powered wheeled vehicle, such a truck has a limited turning 
radius. Additionally, the fork lift mechanism, which makes the attached 
pallet an extension of the truck, exacerbates the warehouse's shortage of 
handling space. The frame of the truck absorbs additional warehouse floor 
space. Finally, a fork lift truck is often severely limited in the extend 
of load and size of pallet it can handle due to the stresses induced in 
its (cantilevered) protruding tongue portion. 
A number of attempts have been made to design an efficient means for coping 
with the transport of heavy items normally stored within warehouses upon 
pallets or shipping skids. Included in these efforts have been a number of 
attempts to support the pallet by its corners, utilizing wheeled means. 
Such an apparatus makes more efficient use of the floor space of the 
warehouse than a fork lift truck and has the capability of handling larger 
loads than such a truck. The Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,348 shows a 
specially designed, portable pallet equipped with casters. The casters may 
be moved from a rest position, (pallet lying upon the ground) to a 
transport position (pallet raised above the floor, casters the sole 
contact with the floor) to allow the pallet to assume support and 
transport configurations. Additionally, each of the wheel or caster 
assemblies may be removed. However, the apparatus of Johnson may only be 
utilized in conjunction with his pallet of a special construction which 
includes such non-standard features as a plate-like mounting means for 
adapting the casters to the pallet. 
Other patents which, like the Johnson patent, depend upon means for 
pivoting casters or wheels which are integrally attached to the support 
platform so as to raise or lower the platform relative to the ground or 
floor are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 459,365 of Linden and U.S. Pat. No. 
2,446,518 of Arnold et al. Like the Johnson patent, these patents also 
disclose specially constructed, load supporting platforms. Similarly, the 
Pride U.S. Pat. No. 1,973,098 discloses a substitute for the conventional 
carrying skid commonly employed for loads requiring basal support. The Lee 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,774 discloses a load platform or sled with two sets of 
removable canister wheels for transporting. However, the system disclosed 
therein also requires a special lifting lever to raise the sled before the 
caster wheels can be inserted. 
Systems incorporating self-contained, integrally constructed wheels are 
disclosed in the McMurry U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,981, the Denholm U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,917,317, the Long U.S. Pat. No. 3,213,993 and the Winger U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,774,609. The inclusion of transport wheels as integral components in 
a load support element undesirably increases the cost of that element and 
it is generally preferred to utilize low cost, conventional skids as load 
platform without integral wheel units. 
The Neumayr U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,941 and the Anderson U.S. Pat. No. 
2,487,508 both disclose load supporting structures mounted for transport 
on wheels or casters in which are incorporated hydraulic lifting 
mechanisms for raising or lowering the platform base relative to the 
wheels or the frame in which the wheels are mounted. However, again these 
load supporting apparatus are specially constructed arrangements which are 
not adapted, nor are they intended, for use in the manner of conventional 
shipping skids or pallets. 
It is desirable to have a system which utilizes standard, conventional 
skids or pallets with arrangements for readily affixing or coupling wheels 
or casters thereto in a manner which thereafter permits the relative 
elevation of the skids with respect to the wheels so that the system 
thereafter may be transported on the wheels, and subsequently lowered at 
the point of destination so that the wheels may be readily removed and 
utilized in conjunction with another load-bearing skid or pallet. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In brief, particular apparatus in accordance with the present invention 
utilizes a plurality of adaptable wheel dollies which may be engaged to a 
standard pallet adjacent its corners. Each dolly has a fixed support 
member to engage the pallet or skid within a channel customarily provided 
in the conventional pallet or skid. The dollies each have elevation 
adjustment means so that the fixed support member can engage the pallet 
while the pallet is flat on the ground and can be adjusted to elevate the 
pallet to a raised position for lateral transport. 
Various types of elevation adjustment means may be utilized in accordance 
with the present invention. In one particular arrangement, a worm 
gear-and-crank conbination is provided for each individual wheel dolly so 
that the elevation of the associated support member relative to the wheel 
of the dolly may be adjusted manually, despite the heavy loads for which 
the device is specifically designed. In another particular arrangement in 
accordance with the present invention, hydraulic lift mechanisms are 
provided for each individual wheel dolly for individually adjusting the 
elevation of the associated support member relative to the wheel thereof. 
In another alternative embodiment, individual electric motor driven 
elevating mechanisms are employed for varying the elevation of the dolly 
support member relative to the associated wheel. In both of the latter 
alternative arrangements, an associated control unit, which may be 
centrally or remotely positioned relative to the wheel dollies, may be 
intercoupled with the hydraulic or electrically driven elevation 
mechanisms for controlling the raising and lowering of the individual 
wheel dollies, either separately or in unison, as desired. 
The adaptable wheel dollies of the present invention are welded mechanical 
assemblies, used as individual raising and lowering devices for each of 
the four corner portions of a heavy, metal-welded vibration and shipping 
platform, supporting a multiple-ton defense system. Arrangements in 
accordance with the present invention were specifically developed to fill 
a need relating to the transporting of the United States Navy Phalanx 
Close-In Weapon System. The Phalanx is an integral, total weapon system 
having a 20mm gun assembly utilizing a plurality of gun barrels rotating 
in Gatling gun fashion. Aiming of the guns through 320.degree. of azimuth 
and 90.degree. of elevation is controlled by an associated fire control 
radar/servo assembly which contains both search and tracking radar 
sub-systems. The radar assembly is mounted atop the gun assembly for 
movement therewith, and both are mounted on a gun mount and train drive 
assembly. The total weapon system is contained in a unitized, modular 
structure, which permits fast, low-cost installation on a wide variety of 
ships, mobile trucks, air strips, flatcars, etc. 
However, being a complete, integral system having the various components 
already enumerated, together with associated power supplies and control 
systems, the Phalanx unit as constructed is extremely heavy, weighing in 
excess of six tons. The weapon system is fabricated in a high technology 
equipment manufacturing plant which is not of the classical heavy 
manufacturing type. Thus, when it is necessary to move a finished weapon 
system out of the plant for shipment, the conventional fork lifts, 
although of the structural configuration which is suitable for coupling 
into the shipping pallet of the system, simply do not have the load 
lifting capacity. Until the present invention was developed, it thus 
became necessary to rent an extremely heavy duty fork lift having the load 
lifting capability. This undesirably increases the expense associated with 
moving the finished Phalanx weapon system to the shipping dock or the 
like. Moreover, because of the substantial size of the system, the 
additional bulk of the heavy duty fork lift makes the overall package 
extremely difficult to maneuver in the limited spaces available in the 
manufacturing facility. 
By using the adaptable wheel dollies in accordance with the present 
invention, each individual dolly is inserted into existing fork lift 
openings within the vibration/shipping platform or pallet so that only the 
wheel portion of the dolly extends forward or aft outside the pallet. Each 
individual dolly is then raised by the use of the elevating mechanism. An 
A-frame tongue may be attached to the two lead dollies by insertable pivot 
pins and an industrial tow-motor may then be coupled to pull, turn or back 
the system as a solid transportation bed at the desired height. The tongue 
may be attached to wheel dollies at either end of the pallet, depending 
upon the need or direction desired for travel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of 
the preferred embodiment of a pallet transport system of the present 
invention comprising adjustable wheel dollies 11, 11', 13, and 13', as 
engaged to a pallet or shipping skid 15. Wheel struts 16 support the 
dollies on wheels 18. The forward struts 16 of dollies 11, 11' are 
pivotable through 360.degree. for steering. The struts 16 of rear dollies 
13, 13' are also pivotable if desired but are preferably pinned against 
rotation by pins such as 20, during towing or movement. 
The pallet or shipping skid 15 is seen to comprise an essentially flat 
surface upon which a heavy bulky item or a large volume of items may be 
placed for unitized storage and shipment. The pallet 15 has a generally 
uniform depth representing the separation of its upper surface 17 from its 
lower surface 19. Such separation may be maintained by a variety of 
partitioning devices such as "sills". Separation of upper surface 17 from 
lower surface 19 provides a plurality of hollow openings within the pallet 
15. In the skid or pallet 15 illustrated in FIG. 1, such openings are 
shown as a pair of channels or insert enevelopes 21, 21'. Such channels or 
similar spaces are conventional in generally-used shipping skids, pallets 
or "flats". 
A fixed support member 23 may be seen attached to the vertical face 25 of 
each dollies 11, 11' (forward dollies) and 13, 13' (rear dollies). Each 
vertical face 25 is seen in turn to be rigidly engaged to dolly upper 
plane 27. Each dolly thus provides a vertically offset, cantilevered 
support member such as 23 which is underslung relative to the pallet 15. 
The upper plane 27 has a notch 29 at its cantilevered end. The notch 29 
exists in both the forward dollies 11, 11' and rear dollies 13, 13'. It 
allows the user to insert A-frame tongue 31 which, in turn, may be joined 
to an industrial towmotor, for example, to power the movement of the load 
on the pallet or shipping skid 15. A simple engagement is provided by the 
use of matching tongue pin holes 33 and dolly pin holes 35. The pivotable 
engagement of the A-frame tongue 31 to the dollies 11, 11' is secured by 
the insertion of attachment pins 37. It is to be noted that the tongue 31 
may be adapted to either the forward dollies 11, 11' or the rear dollies 
13, 13' in equivalent fashion. The desired direction of transport will 
dictate such engagement. 
Other simple pin and slot arrangements may be utilized in securing the 
fixed support members 23 to the shipping skid 15. This is accomplished by 
the pins 39 which engage the holes 41 within fixed support member 23 to 
lock the fixed support member 23 to a matching hole (not shown) in the 
side of insert envelope 21 or 21'. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a side view in detail of an individual wheel dolly of 
the present invention. In addition to the S-shaped frame comprising the 
fixed support member 23 engaged to vertical face 25, which in turn is 
engaged to upper plate 27, the wheel dolly is seen to have a wheel 43 
rotatable upon forked frame 45. The wheel 43 is freely rotating and not 
engaged to any mechanical motor or gearing. Elevation adjustment means 47 
sits atop upper plane 27. The elevation adjustment means may be any of a 
number of common mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuated mechanisms. 
This mechanism enables the elevation adjustment means 47 to travel the 
height of protruding shaft 49, thereby pulling the rigidly engaged 
S-shaped frame of the dolly in conjunction therewith. By such movement, it 
is seen that fixed support member 23 and, consequently, the pallet or 
shipping skid 15 engaged thereto, is caused to be raised or lowered in 
response to the action of the elevation adjustment means 47. Such movement 
allows the user to engage the dolly to the pallet 15 while the pallet is 
lying flat upon the ground. For purposes of shipment or transport, the 
pallet is then raised to the position indicated with cross-hatching in 
FIG. 2. In such position only the wheel 43 of the dolly contacts the 
ground. Transport may now ensue with, perhaps, the assistance of a 
motorized device engaged to the unit by means of an A-frame tongue 31. 
A swivel adjustment pin 51 engages each wheel dolly at elevation adjustment 
means 47. By the insertion of the pin 51, the swivel (horizontal plane) 
movement of the forked frame 45 and hence the attached wheel 43 of each 
dolly is restrained. With no pin 51 in place, each wheel 43 may rotate 
through 360.degree. to allow extreme steering tolerance for the unit 
comprising dollies 11, 11', 13, 13' and pallet 15. Thus, a variety of 
transport modes may be selected depending upon the space maneuverability 
requirement of the particular task and confining space. For movement up a 
narrow row of stacked pallets it may be desirable to lock all four wheels 
to assure that the pallet will not "wander". A very small turning radius 
may be achieved by removal of the pins 51 from all dollies. Alternatively, 
it may be desirable to fix the trailing wheels and leave the forward 
wheels free for rotation, a standard guiding and trailing wheel 
configuration. 
Although there has been described hereinabove specific apparatus of pallet 
transport means in accordance with the invention for the purpose of 
illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, 
it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. 
Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent 
arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art should be 
considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the 
appended claims.