Patent GB-1137731-A (GB)
Title: An improved motor driven vehicular chassis and load carrying platform or container for transport thereby
IPC: B60P1/64
Filed: 1966-01-31
Abstract: 1,137,731. Transferring containers and flats to and from vehicles. D. S. P. BLACK. 27 Jan., 1967 [31 Jan., 1966], No. 4101/66. Heading B8E. A vehicle chassis 10, Fig. 1, has a frame 14 above which is a lifting frame 11 connected to the frame 14 by front and rear toggle links 15, 16, and power means such as hydraulic rams 22, Fig. 6, for operating the linkages so that they raise the frame and then pass through their dead centres to lower the frame. The frame 11 is guided by bars 12 slidably disposed in guides 13. The centre joints of the toggles are interconnected by shafts 19, 20 which are interconnected by a longitudinal beam 21, the shaft 20 being connected to the rams 22. Control of the latter is by the driver. The lower links of the front toggles are extended beyond the centre joints at 17a and these extensions are connected by rods 24 to a sliding frame 25 having crossmembers 26 . . . 28 provided with tongues 29 adapted for locking engagement with the frame 30 of a load platform. The frame 25 has guide channels 32 formed as a V. The frame 30 has front and rear telescopic legs 33, 34 each formed by an outer tubular member having an inner tubular member telescoped therein. Each inner tubular member contains a vertical slide 37, Fig. 7, the upper end of which is attached to a cable 38, Fig. 2. The slide 37 has pivotally connected on each side thereof one end of a link 39 the other end of which is pivoted to a latch 40 having a head 41, the two heads extending laterally in opposite directions. The lower end of each latch 40 is pivoted to a plate 42 fixed in the inner tubular member and has a toe 43 loaded by a compression spring 46 to urge the head 41 outwardly. The lower end of the slide 37 has a slot 49 engaging a bolt 48 fixed in the inner tubular member. When the legs are extended the heads 41 project through slots in the inner tubular members to support the outer tubular members and when the latches 40 are withdrawn the inner tubular members can slide within the outer tubular members. The cables 38 associated with the rear legs pass over pulleys 50, 51 and are anchored to the frame 30, the pulleys 51 being carried by a cross-member 52 mounted on guides on the frame and having downwardly projecting pins adapted to be engaged by the member 28 of the frame 25. The front legs are carried by transverse slides 56 having downwardly projecting pins 58 engaging in the channels 32 of the frame 25. The cables 38 associated with the front legs pass over pulleys 59 on the slides 56 and pulleys 59a on the frame 30 and are anchored to the latter. In operation, the chassis 10 is driven beneath the frame 30 when the latter is supported by the legs 33, 34, the front legs being then in the outer position to permit passage of the chassis 10 therebetween. Uprights 60 on the chassis 10 abut against the platform. The toggle links 15, 16 are then moved to lift the frame 11  which engages and raises the frame 30 of the platform so that the load is taken off the legs. The toggle links pass over their dead centre and the frames 11 and 30 are lowered to rest on the chassis. During this movement the sliding frame 25 is moved to engage the tongues 29 with keepers on the frame 30 to lock the platform to the chassis. Also during this movement the cross-member 52 is moved so that the cables 38 of the rear legs draw upwardly the slides 37 thereof. This first retracts the latches 40 and then slides the inner tubular members into the outer tubular members. Further during this movement the channels 32 co-operate with the pins 58 to retract the slides 56 which in turn retract the latches 40 of the front legs and contract the latter. To deposit the platform the above movements are reversed. The rams 22 may be replaced by screw and nut mechanisms driven by reversible hydraulic motors. The platform may be replaced by a container 60, Fig. 12, provided with vertical housings 61 disposed in which are telescopic legs 62. The outer member of each leg is pivoted to the container at 63 and is provided at the lower end with lateral guides 64 for plungers 64a. Near the foot of each housing is pivoted at 64e a pair of levers 64b which are also pivoted to the plungers 64a. The levers 64b are biased to their horizontal position by tension springs 64d. The legs have latches as above described and are retracted by cables (65), Figs. 10,11 (not shown), in a manner similar to that described above. The cables are operated by movement of a cross-member (69). In operation retraction of the legs causes feet thereof to engage the plungers 64a which when raised turn the levers 64b to pivot the legs into the housings 61. The cross-members (69) may be operated manually by gearing (70 ... 73).