VEHICLE-MOUNTED HOIST UNIT

Abstract: The subject of this invention is a vehicle-mounted hoist unit for mounting on vehicles, which consists of a base plate (1), a hoisting device (2) which moves along the base plate, a transference device (3) for moving the hoisting device back and forth along the base plate and support legs (4) for supporting the hoisting device on the base plate. There is also a connection device (6) on the vehicle (5) with which the base plate (1) can be connected at an angle to the vehicle (5), and a support bed (7) with which the base plate (1) can be turned with respect to the vehicle and one or more locating guides attached to the base plate for aligning the base plate with respect to the vehicle. In order to facilitate the connection, one or more locating guides (8) are attached to the base plate (1) which butt against the vehicle when the base plate is being connected to the vehicle and which are designed to align the base plate with the connection device.

Description: VEHICLE-MOUNTED HOIST UNIT The subject of the invention is a vehicle-mounted hoist unit for mounting on vehicles, which consists of a base plate, a hoisting device which moves along the base plate, a transference device such as a cylinder for moving the hoisting device back and forth along the base plate and support legs for supporting the hoisting device on the base plate, and on the vehicle there is a connection device, with which the base plate can be connected at an angle to the vehicle, a support bed with which the base plate can be turned with respect to the vehicle and one or more locating guides attached to the base plate for aligning the base plate with respect to the vehicle. The vehicle-mounted hoists used by commercial vehicles are usually connected to the rear ofthe lorry unit. With these vehicle-mounted hoists the vehicle and its trailer can be efficiently loaded. These kinds of vehicles equipped with a vehicle-mounted hoist are used, for example, in transporting timber products. The hoists are usually connected to the vehicle with the ability to move in a lengthwise direction or in a fixed position. There is, however, also a recognised solution in which the base plate ofthe hoist and the hoist are connected to the rear of the vehicle at an angle and are movable with the help of a special support framework. An example of this kind of solution is presented in the Swedish patent 405952. Where the hoist can be placed at an angle with respect to the various corners of the vehicle and moved relative to it, the hoist can be located in the best possible position with respect to the work and the lorry unit and the trailer can be loaded as safely and efficiently as possible. The connection and removal of the current types of vehicle-mounted hoists to the vehicle is troublesome and very time consuming. The rear trailer has first to be disconnected. When connecting it is difficult to get the vehicle-mounted hoist in the correct position and the alignment and connection procedure consumes a considerable amount of work-time. In general practice, the vehicle-mounted hoists are not removed from the vehicle and then reconnected, rather, they are constantly transported with the vehicle, often for the reason that the removal and reconnection is complicated. In these situations they increase the total weight of the lorry and trailer combination. If the hoist does not need to be transported along with the load then the vehicle is able to carry the equivalent weight of, for example, timber products, in which case the increase in effective load is significant. This is not, however, easy to do with current equipment. The purpose of this invention is to introduce a vehicle-mounted hoist unit which brings about an improvement in the use of current vehicle-mounted hoists. In particular, the purpose ofthe invention is to introduce a vehicle- mounted hoist unit which is easily disconnected from the vehicle and which can be easily manoeuvred into position and connected. In addition, the purpose of the invention is to produce a vehicle-mounted hoist unit which is simple in its construction and easy to use. The purpose ofthe invention is achieved with a vehicle-mounted hoist unit which possesses the characteristics presented in the appended patent claims. According to the invention the support bed is curve-shaped and the distance between the connecting point in the base plate and the locating guide is the same as the distance between the connection device and the outer edge of the support bed. In this way the locating guide or locating guides are arranged to butt against the support bed when the vehicle- mounted hoist is being connected to the vehicle and to align the connecting point in the base plate with the connection device. When connecting the vehicle-mounted hoist the vehicle is moved close to the hoist unit. When the vehicle is at a suitable distance from the vehicle- mounted hoist the hydraulic pipes are connected between the hoist and the vehicle. After this, the control valves in the hoist are used to operate the transference device which moves the base plate forward until it is in contact with the support bed or the upper surface ofthe vehicle chassis. At this point the locating guides make contact with the support bed and butt against it and move or turn the vehicle-mounted hoist so that the connecting point in the base plate turns to match up with the connection device. In this situation the connection of the vehicle-mounted hoist is very simple and is carried out quickly. The structure is simple but functional. When the disconnection process is easy, the vehicle-mounted hoist can be disconnected and connected with ease and does not always need to be taken along. When the vehicle-mounted hoist can be left at the work place and the load can be taken without the hoist to the desired location, the effective load can be increased. When driving without a load the hoist is not present adding additional weight, which provides a saving in fuel expenses. When the curvature ofthe support bed and the locating guides butting against it are identical it is possible to get the base centralised extremely easily and efficiently so that the connecting point in the base turns in to match up with the connection device. In the advantageous embodiment of the invention the locating guides are positioned against the curvature of the base plate and locking units are attached to the locating guides to fasten the base to the support bed. By using this kind of structure the base plate can be connected to the vehicle firmly and reliably. In the following, the invention is defined in more detail with reference to the attached illustrations, in which: Figure 1 shows an application of the vehicle-mounted hoist in accordance with the invention, and its position, seen from above, figure 2 shows the vehicle-mounted hoist shown in figure 1 connected to the rear of the vehicle, seen from above, figure 3 shows the connection in figure 2 seen from the side, and figure 4 shows the vehicle-mounted hoist in figures 1 - 3 disconnected from the vehicle and viewed from an angle from above. In the embodiments shown in the figures the vehicle-mounted hoist consists of a base plate 1 connected to the connection device 6 connected to the rear of the vehicle 5, the hoisting device 2 and support legs 4 connected to the base plate. The hoisting device is attached to the top of the base plate such that it can move in a lengthwise direction and the device includes a hydraulic cylinder 3, attached to the base plate and the hoisting device, which moves the hoisting device 2 with respect to base plate 1 or vice versa. The base plate in this application is a wide plate strengthened with corrugations, but in other applications other types of base plate can be used. The base plate is attached by a connecting point in its tip 9, the so-called connecting hole to the connection device 6 on the vehicle, with a so-called gudgeon pin. A short distance from the connection device 6 is the curve-shaped support bed 7 connected to the vehicle. The support bed 7 forms a circular arc whose centre point is located over the connection device. In other arrangements other attachment solutions can be used. The hydraulic cylinder is used to move the hoisting device 2 in a lengthwise direction with respect to the base plate and whilst being driven the hoisting device is withdrawn as far forward as possible so that it is positioned as much as possible over the truck. Under the base plate are the locating guides 8 and they are arranged such that the distance between the connecting point 9 and the locating guides 8 is the same as the distance between the connecting device 6 and the outer surface of the support bed. The locating guides 8 are situated a short distance fiom each other and their surfaces facing the vehicle are curve-shaped and the curvature corresponds to the curvature of the outer surface ofthe support bed 7. The locking units 10 are attached to the locating guides in order to fix the base plate to the support bed 7. The fastening devices used in the application shown in figure 3 are fastening levers attached to the underside of the locating guides. A fastening spring 1 1 is positioned between the fastening lever and the base plate, which is designed to clamp the frame against the surface of the support bed 7. In other applications other attachment methods and solutions can be used such as mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic fastening devices. The connection ofthe vehicle-mounted hoist according to the invention to the vehicle is easy and is carried out as follows: With the hoist being in the position shown in figure 4, separate from the vehicle, it can be connected to it by driving the vehicle as close as possible to the base plate so that the unit is in a rear position with respect to the hoist. The pipes are connected between the vehicle and the hoist and the base plate is moved with the hydraulic cylinder away from the hoist in a forward direction relative to the hoist until the locating guides make contact with the support bed and turn and shift the base plate so that the connecting point comes in line with the position of the connection device and the base plate and the hoist can be connected to the vehicle. In the same way, disconnection is easily performed by turning the frame of the hoist to the side, shifting the hoist to its furthest back position, following which the support legs and lifting gate of the hoist are lowered and the hoist is then standing on the support legs and lifting gate. The locking devices can then be released and the base plate is drawn to its furthest back position relative to the hoist. Finally the pipes aie disconnected and the vehicle is driven away. The vehicle-mounted hoist is shown disconnected in figure 4. Connection and disconnection can take place from either side of the vehicle without releasing the trailer. When the equipment is used in a working position it can be turned to the required comer with respect to the vehicle and trailer as shown in figure 1. In the position shown in figure 1, the trailer is at an angle to the vehicle so that the trailer can be loaded directly and the trailer does not need to have any expensive transference systems for support uprights which also reduce the effective load. The invention is not limited to the advantageous arrangements shown but can vary within the framework of the invention concept formed by the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A vehicle-mounted hoist unit situated on a vehicle which consists of a base plate (1), a hoisting device (2) which is movable relative to the base plate, a transference device (3) such as a cylinder for moving the hoisting device relative to the base plate or vice versa, and support legs (4) for supporting the hoisting device on the ground, and on the vehicle (5) there is a connection device (6), with which the base plate (1) can be attached at an angle to the vehicle (5), a support bed (7) positioned a short distance from the connection device with which the base plate (1 ) can be attached at an angle to the vehicle, and one or more locating guides (8) attached to the base plate (1) for aligning the base plate with respect to the vehicle, characterised in that the support bed is curve-shaped and that the distance between the base plate connecting point (9) and locating guides (8) is the same as the distance between the connection device (6) and the outer surface ofthe support bed (7) where the locating guide or locating guides (8) are arranged to butt against the support bed (7) when the vehicle-mounted hoist is being connected to the vehicle and to align the connecting point (9) in the base plate with the connection device (6). 2. The vehicle-mounted hoist unit according to the patent claim 1, characterised in that the surfaces ofthe locating guides (8) facing the curvature ofthe support bed (7) are positioned in a curve shape whose curvature corresponds to the curvature ofthe outer surface ofthe support bed (7). 3. A vehicle-mounted hoist unit according to the patent claim 2, characterised in that the locating guides (8) are located under the base plate (1) and locking units (10) are fixed to the locating guides to fasten the base plate to the support bed (7).

Inventors: MARKKANEN TIMO, MARKKANEN, TIMO
Applicants: MARKKANEN TIMO, MARKKANEN, TIMO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60P1
IPC codes: B60P1, B66C23