Patent GB-545912-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in vehicles for transporting demountable freight containers
IPC: B60P1/64
Filed: 1940-12-12
Abstract: 545,912. Handling transferable loadcontainers. NATIONAL FITCH, CORPORATION. Dec. 12, 1940, No. 17622. Convention date, Dec. 13, 1939. [Class 78 (iv)] In a vehicle for transporting a freight container which is transferable to and from the vehicle and a second vehicle or a platform, the first vehicle is provided with a bridge which can be extended to various positions to connect that vehicle with the other vehicle or platform, the bridge having a movable pivotal connection with the first vehicle, this connection preferably being by plungers or balls. In the construction shown a road vehicle A is provided with means for transferring a container C either to or from an adjacent vehicle B which may be a rail vehicle. The container is provided with skids c adapted to run in transverse guide channels a, b on the vehicles. The means for moving the container may comprise a pair of endless chains 10 on the road vehicle simultaneously driven from a motor 14. Push-and-pull bars 40 can be secured at one end to blocks 35 on the container and the other ends of these bars can be attached to the chains 10, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when the chains are driven in the right direction the bars 40 pull the container along the guides b from vehicle B and on to the guides a of the road vehicle, these guides being aligned. The bars 40 are now disconnected and the chains 10 are again driven in the same direction until blocks 20 thereon engage lugs 36 on the container blocks 35 and move the container into the desired position on the road vehicle. In order to allow for any variations in height between the two vehicles, and to bridge the gaps between the guides a and b, a pair of adjustable bridge members 50 is provided on each side of the road vehicle. Normally, these members 50 are housed within casings 60, as shown in Fig. 7, these casings being directly underneath and carrying the guides a. When required for use the bridges at one side of the vehicle are drawn out as shown in Fig. 4 and their outer ends are secured to the rail vehicle by means of fastenings 80 and hinged brackets 91. As each bridge moves outwards recesses 56 in the sides thereof pass by a pair of balls 70 carried in openings 71 in the casings 60, and when the bridge is connected to the rail vehicle with one pair of the recesses 56 in line with the balls 70 the latter are forced by hand-operated wedges 75 into the recesses, as shown in Fig. 4, to lock the bridge to the road vehicle, the balls also serving as pivots for the bridge. A pivoted flap 100 is provided on each bridge to bridge the vertical gap between the bridge and the guide a above it. The bridges can also be locked in their retracted or idle position by the balls 70, these balls then engaging recesses 58 in the bridges. When the container is in position on the road vehicle it is locked by means of stirrups 110 pivoted at 111 and swung over the projecting ends of the skids c on the container, as shown in Fig. 7, these stirrups being then padlocked in this position. In order that, in whatever position the container is with reference to the road vehicle, the motor 14 can only be started in the direction necessary to move the container as required, the container carries projection 131, Fig. 7, adapted to operate push-button switches 130 on the guides a, and the bridges 50 when retracted operate switches 120. These switches 120, 130 are arranged in circuit with the starting and reversing switches for the motor 14 so that the motor can only be started in the right direction to suit the position of the container and the bridges 50 ; further the motor can only be started when one pair of bridges is extended.