Patent GB-674555-A (GB)
Title: Road transport vehicle capable of being loaded on to a platform wagon by its own devices
IPC: B60P1/64
Filed: 1950-06-13
Abstract: 674,555. Vehicle fittings. MARIAGE, G. June 13, 1950. No. 14699/50. Class 78 (iv). [Also in Group XXXII] A road transport vehicle such as a trailer which can be loaded onto a platform type railway wagon without the necessity of arranging a quay or lifting apparatus has means for varying the height of the body of the vehicle on the one hand for bringing the body to a level slightly above that of the floor of the wagon and on the other hand for lowering the body to make it rest on the floor when it has been brought over it, means for retracting the vehicle wheels, means for supporting the body at the height to which it has been brought and means for bringing about lateral displacement of the body to bring it above and to take' it from the wagon. The central part C of a trailer has two identical end parts A and B each having a wheel train a or b which is pivotally mounted and bolted to the under carriage and is retractable by removing the bolt and operating the winch 11 when a cable rotates the wheel train about a hinge the wheel train being then secured in the raised position. A horizontal runway comprises a channel shaped bar 22, and a I-shaped beam 23 and is situated at the end part of the trailer and rollers in a frame 20 engage both beams for lateral translation. of the trailer the frame having a screw 17 and a nut operated by a handwheel 19 bracketed to the trailer. Operating the screw raises the runway. The trailer carries extensions 28, 29 of the runways 22, 23. These, normally secured in a raised position, are lowered by a cable and winch. A foot member 36 is pivotally and detachably mounted on the runway 22, 23 and has hinged struts 39, a brace 41 with a member 43 slidably engaging the runway and secured thereto by a screw. In operation, for loading' a trailer onto a wagon, the trailer is brought beside and within a few inches of the wagon, the member 28 is lowered by operating the winch 32 and the member 29 is released from the runway. The screw 17 is operated so that the member 28 is at the height of the platform of the wagon, -the member 22, 23 is then slid laterally to extend the member 28 over the platform. The winch 32 is unwound and the cable end is secured to the rail. The leg 36 is lowered and the wheels retracted. The level of the floor of the vehicle is then adjusted by further operating the screw 17 so that the body of the trailer is slightly above the level of the wagon. The winch 32 is then operated and the trailer is moved laterally above the wagon. The trailer is then lowered to rest on the wagon by the screw 17. The screw is further operated to raise the runway 28. The foot 36 is pivoted upwardly and the member 22, 23 is slid inwardly to its original position, the member 28 is then raised by operating the winch 32 and cable 30. The members 28, 29 may comprise hinged sections for convenience of use when space is restricted. The trailer may be semi-towed, Fig. 18, in which case it has a pivoted crutch 59 and has a retractable pintle 56 for connection with a tractor. The tractor may be loaded onto the platform by a collapsible gantry.