DEVICE FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING VEHICLES

Abstract: Device for loading and unloading vehicles, comprising a plurality of endless cables (1) extending in parallel along a loading platform (P) of a vehicle with respective conveyor passes (1a) projecting from the platform and return passes (1b) contained within the thickness of the platform, and in which the cables are driven by a transverse thrust element (2) connected to the conveyor passes and driven by means of a chain-driven operating mechanism (3). The conveyor passes (1a) of the cables (1) slide along guides (5) of self-lubricating plastics material of high strength fixed to the loading platform (P) of the vehicle (S) and having longitudinal slide grooves (7) of semi-circular section, in which the conveyor passes (1a) of the cables (1) rest.

Description: Device for loading and unloading vehicles. The present invention relates to a device for loading and unloading vehicles, of the type comprising a plurality of endless cables extending in parallel along a loading platform of a vehicle with respective conveyor passes projecting from the platform and return passes contained within the thickness of the platform, and in which the cables are driven by a transverse thrust element connected to the conveyor passes an driven by means of a chain-driven operating mechanism. Such devices, of which one example is described an illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4082196, are intended for use in lorries and their trailers in order t enable the loads to be handled independently, that is, without recourse to auxiliary apparatus such as lifting trucks and the like. The object of the present invention is to improve suc devices in order to improve their reliability, working life, and efficiency. According to the invention, this object is achieved b virtue of the fact that the conveyor passes of th cables slide along guides of self-lubricating plastic material of high strength fixed to the loading platfor of the vehicle and having longitudinal slide grooves o semi-circular section, in which the conveyor passes o the cables rest. By virtue of this characteristic, the sliding frictio of the cables along the loading platform of the vehicle which the device is installed is reduced considerably, one hand facilitating the translation of the-loads during loading and unloading operations, and on the other hand extending the working life of the cables themselves. Conveniently, these cables are constituted by stranded cables with longitudinal external facetting. * The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which: _« Figure 1 is a partially-sectioned schematic perspective view of a vehicle having a loading and unloading device according to the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line II-II of Figure 1, and Figure 3 illustrates the detail indicated III in Figure 2 on an enlarged scale. in Figure 1 a semi-trailer having a horizontal loading platform P on which loads C rest is indicated S. The semi-trailer S has a loading and unloading device for the loads C, which includes a series of endless cables 1 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer S along the loading platform P, and a transverse thrust structure 2 for moving the cables 1. The transverse member 2 has, in known manner, drive devices 3 on its sides, which cooperate with two lateral chains 4 extending along the sides of the series of cables 1. According to the invention, the conveyor passes la of the cables 1 slide along respective guides 5 fixed to the platform P parallel to its longitudinal axis. The guides 5 are of self-lubricating, high-strength plastics material, such as oil-charged nylon,and are fixed to the platform P, for example by simple self-tapping screws 6, in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. Each guide 5 has a longitudinal slide groove 7 of semi-circular section in which the conveyor pass la of the respective cable 1 rests, while the return pass lb is housed in a longitudinal channel 8 formed in the platform P. As clearly shown in Figure 2 , the return passes lb are housed within the thickness of the loading platform P and thus do not project therefrom: this is achieved by the use of return pulleys (not illustrated) with inclined axes at the ends of the cables 1. The cables 1 are constituted, according to the invention, by stranded cables with longitudinal external facetting. This characteristic makes the cables 1 particularly compact and strong. In operation, the movement of the loads C resting on the loading platform P is achieved by the actuation of the drive units 3 which cause the translation of the transverse member 2 as well as of the conveyor passes la of the cables 1 connected to this transverse member 2 and on which the loads C rest. The use of the guides 5 with their longitudinal grooves 7 , together with the particular conformation of the cables 1 described above, enables the sliding friction of these cables 1 to be reduced considerably, thus ensuring that the operation of the loading and unloading device is improved and that the cables have longer working lives. Naturally, the details of construction of the invention may be varied from those described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the claims which follow. Thus, for example, the loading and unloading device could be made for use on the ground for transferring loads from suitably-equipped platforms.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for loading and unloading vehicles, comprising a plurality of endless cables extending in parallel along a loading platform of a vehicle with respective conveyor passes projecting from the platform and return passes contained within the thickness of the platform, and in which the cables are driven by a transverse thrust element connected to the conveyor passes and driven by means of a chain-driven operating _•» mechanism, characterised in that the conveyor passes (la) of the cables (1) slide along guides (5) of self-lubricating plastics material of high strength • fixed to the loading platform (P) of the vehicle (S) and having longitudinal slide grooves (7) of semi-circular section, in which the conveyor passes (la) of the cables (1) rest. 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cables (1) are constituted by stranded cables with longitudinal external facetting.

Inventors: PELLEGRINO LUIGI, PELLEGRINO, LUIGI
Applicants: SPACE SPA, SPACE S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B60P1
IPC codes: B60P1