MECHANISM FOR LEVERING AND HAULING OF A CONTAINER OR THE LIKE

Abstract: Mechanism for levering and hauling of a container or similar loading body for shifting such loading body onto or from a ramp, a tipping body of a lorry and to or from a location which is not easily accessible for heavy haulage vehicles and/or heavy lifting gear. The mechanism comprises a hauling arm (1) located a mid-length of a shaft means (3) and connectable to a winch or the like, and levering arms (2) also attached to said shaft means (3). The shaft means (3) is pivotably journalled with respect to locking elements (4) by means of which the mechanism is secured to the lower corners at one end of the loading body (5).

Description: MECHANISM FOR LEVERING AND HAULING OF A CONTAINER OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to a mechanism for levering and/or hauling of a container or the like. ■ Containers and similar loading bodies, incl. loading pallets, are increasingly used for transport and storage of various goods. This use is however of restricted value in locations having reduced accessibility for lifting and shifting means, because it may be difficult to deliver and remove the container from such locations using the normal container removal vehicles. It is a object of the present invention to overcome this difficulty and to permit the use of container transport and storage even in locations where such transport and storage was not convenient. Thus, the invention aims at a mechanism for levering and hauling of a container or the like, by means of which the container may be levered from the ground and subsequently hauled onto e.g. a ramp or a tipping body of a lorry by means of a simple hauling mechamism and without the use of a special lifting gear. Alternatively, the ramp or the tipping body may be moved in under the container body. The invention is characterized by the levering and hauling mechanism comprising a pivotable system of arms which are attached to a shaft means at different radial directions with respect to the shaft means, and locking means to secure the shaft means to the lower corners at one end of the container or the like. 9 Further features of the invention will be apparent from the * claims and the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing showing an embodiment by way of example. The drawing shows a levering and hauling mechanism comprising a pivotable system of arms 1, 2 which are attached to a shaft means 3 at different radial directions with respect to the shaft means. Further, the shaft means 3 is provided with locking elements 4 to secure the shaft means to the lower corners at one end of a container 5 or a similar loading body. The locking elements 4 may be of the type known for locking containers of the like ship's decks etc. The arm system comprises a first arm 1 located at mid-length of the shaft means 3 and intended to be connected to a winch or similar hauling mechanism by means of a wire or the like. The said arm shall consequently be referred to as a "hauling arm". The arm system f rther comprises one or more arms 2, there being two such further arms 2 in the embodiment shown. These further arms 2 will, when the hauling arm 1 is pivoted under the influence of the hauling mechanism, be pivoted to the ground, thereby levering container end from the ground. These further arms 2 shall consequently be referred to as "levering arms". The shaft means 3 is pivotably connected to the locking elements 4 by means of pivot pins. In an alternative embodiment the shaft means may be in the form of a hollow shaft journalled on pivot pins extending from each locking element or on a rod extending from one locking element 4 to the other. In the mounted non-active state of the mechanism of the invention, the hauling arm 1 extends substantially vertically upward while the levering arm(s) 2 extend forward and downward from the container 5. The length L of the hauling arm 1 is usually greater than the length 1 of the levering arm(s) , in order to provide a required moment to lever the container from the ground. The mechanism of the invention is mounted on the container with such a height h of the center line of the shaft means 3 above the underside of the container bottom and with respect to the levering arm length 1 that the levering arm 3 may cause a levering of the container end a distance 1 - h sufficiently to allow the container end to be hauled directly in onto the end of a ramp or a tilted tipping body. The levering arm(s) 2 are conveniently provided with a roller 6 or the like at its free end, in order to allow the container 5 to be hauled along the ground or in order to allow a ramp or a tilted tipping body to be moved in under the container end once the container is levered from the groun . The mechanism of the invention may alternatively be provided with skids or the like at the free ends of the levering arms 2. Independently of whether the levering arms (2) carry rollers (6) or skids at their free ends, the mechanism of the invention may be advantageously used for shifting containers from one location to another in regions which are not easily accessible with heavy haulage vehicles and/or heavy lifting gear. The mechanism may also advantageously be used for releasing a container or the like which is frozen or stuck to the ground.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Mechanism for levering and hauling of a container or the like, characterized in that it comprises a pivotable system of arms (1, 2) which are attached to a shaft means (3) at different radial directions with respect to the shaft means, and locking means (4) to secure the shaft means to the lower corners at one end of a container (5) or the like. 2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm system comprises a first arm (1) located at mid-length of the shaft means (3) and connectable to a winch or similar hauling means, and one or more further arms (2) which, when the first arm (1) is pivoted under the influence of the hauling means, will pivot to engage the ground and thereby lever the container end. 3. Mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the shaft means (3) to which the arm system (1, 2) is attached is pivotable journalled with respect to the locking means (4) . 4. Mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the shaft means (3) comprises a tubular shaft to which the arm system (1, 2) is attached and which is pivotably journalled on a rod extending from one locking element (4) to the other. 5. Mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the shaft means (3) comprises a tubular shaft to which the arm system (1, 2) is attached and which is pivotably journalled on pivot pins attached to and extending towards each other from the respective locking elements (4) . 6. Mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the center height (h) of the shaft means (3) above the underside of the container (5) or the like is less than the length (1) of the said further arms (2) and that the length (1) of the said further arms (2) is less than the length (L) of the said first arm (1) . 7. Mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the said further arms (2) are arranged symmetrically about a plane at right angles to the shaft means a mid-length thereof. 8. Mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the said further arms (2) are provided with rollers (6) or the like at their free ends. 9. Mechanism according to any of claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the said further arms (2) are provided with skids or the like at their free ends.

Inventors: DAHL HARALD, DAHL, HARALD
Applicants: HAEGGLUNDS MOELV AS, HAEGGLUNDS MOELV A.S
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65G7
IPC codes: B65D90