Patent Description:
In the past, and even nowadays, most of the hooklift container handling units have been equipped with an assembly of support device or devices, at the rear end of the hooklift, having e.g. a set of rollers or skids that has allowed ISO <NUM> containers and other load carrying objects to be safely pulled up on the vehicle during loading or pushed down the ground from the vehicle during unloading. During the use, the device(s) is heavily loaded and this has forced the structure of the device to be quite big in comparison to the space that is available at the rear end of the vehicle chassis, the hooklift system and container. This has led to situations where certain types, or combinations of, of containers or flat-rack containers have been difficult or impossible to handle for an assembly of support devices(s). Also, from an operator point of view, the big, manually operated components are heavy and slow to use and cause a safety risk in particular as the assemblies often needs manual operation to prepare for unloading or loading of a load carrying object. Furthermore, in case of military use, the trucks may be operated in a hostile environment where leaving an armored truck cabin may involve a big risk.

ISO <NUM> containers are containers according to an international standard which classifies intermodal freight shipping containers nominally, and standardizes their sizes, measurements and weight specifications.

Flat-rack containers or simply flatracks may have the same dimensions as their standard container counterpart. However, since these load carrying objects are open structures, which may only have walls on the short ends, their dimensions are based on an imaginary volume placed between the internal dimensions of the container.

In a commonly used structure, the rear end device comprises a rigid middle beam or mounting consoles that are mounted on the chassis, the chassis side, or directly on the hooklift arrangement. The beam or console may then include a pivotable joint that is perpendicular with the longitudinal centerline of a truck and/or hooklift, that allows container beds to rotate. This known structure is disclosed in <CIT> that relates to a vehicle provided with a load handling system of a hook-lift type that is capable of loading a freight container or a flat-rack onto the vehicle. A pair of support devices at the rear of the vehicle have a first configuration in which they extend outwards such that rollers can support the outer lower side regions of the container during loading. The support devices can be pivoted about pivots in order to adopt a second configuration in which they point inwards so that some further rollers spaced close together now face upwards for supporting the central rails on the underside of a flat-rack container during loading. In the second configuration, the structure used to support the container during loading is stowed inwardly and below the rollers and thus does not impede the loading of the flat-rack.

In <CIT> is disclosed an interchangeable frame that is intended to accommodate certain types of interchangeable containers and is intended to supplement different commercial vehicle chassis from different manufacturers and vehicle types for this purpose. A modular system with several interchangeable frame units is provided, which can be bolted to the support frame of a commercial vehicle to provide the necessary support, guidance and attachment options for the desired types of swap bodies. <CIT> relates to a semi-trailer provided with a front gooseneck part. A folding bolster assembly comprises a pair of support arms pivotally mounted on the front gooseneck part for movement between a folded stored position inboard of sides of the trailer body and an in-use position projecting laterally outwardly of the trailer body for engagement with and support of a container mounted on the trailer body.

Other load handling systems are known e.g. from <CIT> and <CIT>.

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to operate a wider range of different types of bodies (e.g. flat-rack containers and ISO <NUM> containers) where the loading/unloading operation preferably may be performed without the operator needing to manually (e.g. by hand) adapt the setup of the load handling device mounted at the vehicle.

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims.

According to the invention, a load handling system is provided, arranged to be mounted to a vehicle and further arranged for supporting loading and unloading of load carrying objects, such as containers and flat rack containers, onto and from, the vehicle from the rear of the vehicle.

The load handling system comprises a frame arrangement comprising a mounting assembly arranged to be fastened to a vehicle frame at a rear end of the vehicle, and a first support member and a second support member. The first and second support members are arranged for supporting the underside of a first type of load carrying objects during loading and unloading.

In addition, the load handling system comprises a first folding structure and a second folding structure respectively connecting the mounting assembly with the first support member and the second support member, and that the first and second folding structures are configured to be moved between an unfolded position, and a folded position. The first and second support members are configured to be folded towards a longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle, wherein in the unfolded position, the first and second support members are in their active position, and arranged to support the underside of the first type of a load carrying object during a loading/unloading procedure, and wherein in the folded position, the first and second support members are in their passive position, being a stowed position. In the stowed position, use of third support members is enabled. The third support members are arranged at the mounting assembly for supporting the underside of a second type of load carrying objects during loading and unloading of the second type of load carrying object.

Preferably, the first type of load carrying object is an ISO <NUM> container, and the second type of load carrying object is a flat-rack container.

By applying the load handling system according to the present invention, the operation of a wider range of load carrying objects including containers, and flat-rack containers, are possible to handle and the operation may preferably be performed without the operator needing to manually set the rear end device to a certain setup. For example, the operator may change the load handling system's configuration from flat-rack mode to container mode automatically from the truck cabin.

The load handling system, and the vehicle, will now be described in detail with references to the appended figures. Throughout the figures the same, or similar, items have the same reference signs. Moreover, the items and the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

With references to the figures, a load handling system <NUM> is disclosed, arranged to be mounted to a vehicle <NUM> and further arranged for supporting loading and unloading of load carrying objects <NUM>, such as containers and flat-rack containers, onto and from, the vehicle <NUM> from the rear of the vehicle.

Containers are e.g. ISO <NUM> containers, i.e. containers according to an international standard which classifies intermodal freight shipping containers nominally, and standardizes their sizes, measurements and weight specifications.

A flat-rack container is usually for the transportation or storage of cargo with unique dimensions. Flat racks are open structures and may only have sides on the short side of the container, so the cargo can stick out the side of the container during transportation.

The load handling system <NUM> comprises a frame arrangement comprising a mounting assembly <NUM> arranged to be fastened to a vehicle frame at a rear end of the vehicle <NUM>. The mounting assembly <NUM> may have an elongated shape and is structured to be fastened to the vehicle such that the longitudinal axis of the mounted assembly is perpendicular to a longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle, see e.g. <FIG>. In alternative variations the mounting assembly may comprise more than one part as an alternative to a single structure with an elongated shape. In case of two parts of the mounting assembly they may be mounting to the rear end of a vehicle in a symmetrical placement on either side of the longitudinal axis A1 of the vehicle.

The load handling system <NUM> further comprises a first support member <NUM> and a second support member <NUM>, wherein the first and second support members are arranged for supporting the underside of a first type of load carrying objects during loading and unloading, and a first folding structure <NUM> and a second folding structure <NUM> respectively connecting the mounting assembly <NUM> with the first support member <NUM> and the second support member <NUM>.

The first and second folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be moved between an unfolded position, and a folded position, and that the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be folded towards the longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle <NUM>. <FIG>, and <FIG> show the load handling system <NUM> having the first and second support members in unfolded positions. In addition, <FIG> show a loading procedure of a vehicle provided with a load handling system having the support members in unfolded positions.

<FIG>, and <FIG> show the load handling system <NUM> having the first and second support members in folded positions. In addition, <FIG> show a loading procedure of a vehicle provided with a load handling system having the support members in folded positions.

In the unfolded position, the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are in their active position, and are arranged to support the underside of the first type of a load carrying object <NUM> during a loading/unloading procedure, and naturally also to support the first type of load carrying object when it has been loaded to the vehicle.

In the folded position, the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are in their passive position, being a stowed position, thereby enabling use of third support members <NUM> arranged at the mounting assembly <NUM> for supporting the underside of a second type of load carrying objects <NUM> during loading and unloading of the second type of load carrying object <NUM>. And also, for supporting the second type of the load carrying object when it has been loaded to the vehicle.

In one advantageous embodiment, the first type of load carrying object <NUM> is an ISO <NUM> container, and the second type of load carrying object is a flat-rack container.

<FIG> discloses a vehicle <NUM> provided with a load handling system <NUM> mounted at the rear end of the vehicle. A hooklift arrangement <NUM> is mounted at the vehicle, provided with means for loading and unloading a load carrying object <NUM> to and from the vehicle. In <FIG>, various positions of the hooklift arrangement <NUM> are shown and the trajectory <NUM> of the hook during a loading/unloading procedure is also illustrated.

<FIG> show schematic illustrations of the hooklift arrangement performing a loading procedure of a first type of load carrying object, i.e. an ISO <NUM> container. <FIG> show schematic illustrations of a hooklift arrangement performing a loading procedure of a second type of load carrying object, i.e. a flat-rack container.

In one embodiment, the folding/unfolding movement is achieved by moving the first and second folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> about a first and a second folding axle <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, wherein these axles are parallel (see <FIG>), or at an angle V1 (see <FIG>, <FIG>), to the longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle <NUM>, and are arranged in a common plane. Furthermore, the first and the second folding axle <NUM>, <NUM> are at equal distances from, and at opposite sides of, the longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle <NUM>. Preferably, the folding/unfolding movement range between the unfolded and folded positions is approximately <NUM> degrees.

In the unfolded position, the longitudinal directions of the elongated support members are essentially parallel.

In a further embodiment, the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are respectively connected to the first and second folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> via a first and a second pivot axle <NUM>, <NUM> and being rotatable in relation to the first and second folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> about pivot pivot axles. <FIG> specifically illustrates the rotation of the first support member being rotatable about the first pivot axle <NUM>.

<FIG> further illustrates an embodiment where the mounting assembly <NUM> comprises third support members <NUM> in the form of a set of rollers. <FIG> shows a particular embodiment of the rollers, where the support members comprises two sets of rollers (although only one side is shown in the figure, a corresponding set of rollers is placed symmetrically to the other side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle). In <FIG> an embodiment with two rollers are shown of the left side of the vehicle and the front roller of the two rollers having a bigger diameter than the rear roller. With a bigger diameter and/or a higher placement relative to the placement of the rear roller, it is possible to increase the loading capacity of the hooklift arm as the front roller will be the point of contact towards the container during the critical range of the unloading and loading.

<FIG> further illustrates and embodiment of the invention where a safety assembly comprising two connecting members <NUM> to secure the unfolded positions of the folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> when the container is fully loaded to the vehicle. The connecting members <NUM> are mounted to the mounting assembly <NUM> and first and second support members respectively, <NUM>, <NUM>, so that the connecting structures are connected to each other on either side when the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are in their respective horizontal positions and disconnected through the tilting of the support members <NUM>, <NUM> as the container is unloaded. The connecting members may e.g. be implemented as a hook structure mounted to the support member to connect to an opening or catching loop, arranged at the mounting assembly <NUM> to catch the hook in the secured position. According to another embodiment, when the folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> are in the unfolded positions, the directions of first and second pivot axles <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned, and are perpendicular to the longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle <NUM>. This is illustrated in <FIG>, and <FIG>.

In still another embodiment, blocking members <NUM> are provided structured to limit the rotation of the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> about their pivot axles <NUM>, <NUM> to approximately <NUM> degrees, between a position where the supporting surfaces of the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> are essentially vertical and a position where the supporting surfaces are essentially horizontal when the support members are in their unfolded position. The blocking members are shown in <FIG>, and are preferably mounted at the sides of the support members <NUM>, <NUM> facing the respective folding structures <NUM>, <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates the support member <NUM> rotated approximately <NUM> degrees from the horizontal level. The rotation is achieved because the support members are mounted to the folding structures such that the pivot axles <NUM>, <NUM> are slightly asymmetrically positioned meaning that the centers of gravity of the support members is not aligned with the pivot axles <NUM>, <NUM> (see <FIG>) resulting in that the parts of the support members being directed in the rear direction of the vehicle are heavier than the parts directed in the forward direction of the vehicle. When the support members are moved from the folded position to the unfolded position they will, due to gravity, slowly move from horizontal positions to essentially vertical positions and then being in positions for supporting the container during a loading procedure. The positions of the support members during a loading procedure of a container are schematically illustrated by <FIG>.

According to another embodiment, each of the folding axles <NUM>, <NUM> are at an angle V1, where <NUM><V1<<NUM> degrees, in relation to the longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle <NUM>, and that each of the pivot axles <NUM>, <NUM> are at an angle V2, where <NUM><V2<<NUM> degrees, in relation to a longitudinal symmetry axis A2 of the folding structure <NUM>, <NUM>.

In <FIG>, angle V1 is indicated being approximately <NUM> degrees, and angle V2 (not shown) are <NUM> degrees. Angle V2 is indicated in <FIG>.

The angles V1 and V2 are chosen such that the extensions of the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> in the rear direction of the vehicle <NUM> are less when the folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> are in their folded positions than when they are in their unfolded position. Compare the rear extensions of the support members e.g. in <FIG> (downwards in the figures) where the support members in the folded position (see <FIG>) are stowed such that essentially no parts extend outside the mounting assembly <NUM> in the rear direction of the vehicle. This is advantageous as essentially no parts of the stowed support members may interfere with a loading operation of e.g. a flat-rack container.

In still another embodiment, the horizontal level of first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> when they are in the active position, i.e. the unfolded position, is at higher level than the horizontal level of the third support members <NUM>. The parts of the folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> and of the first and second support members <NUM>, <NUM> facing upwards when they are in the folded position are at a lower level than the horizontal level of the third support members <NUM>. This aspect is clearly illustrated in <FIG> (unfolded position) and <NUM> (folded position).

In another embodiment, the folding and unfolding movements of each of the first and second folding structures <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged to be actuated by a respective actuator <NUM> controlling the folding/unfolding movements, and that the loading handling system <NUM> further comprises a control unit <NUM> configured to control the movements via control signals <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is shown in the block diagram of <FIG>.

Preferably, the actuator <NUM> is a linear actuator controlling the folding/unfolding movements with linear extensions, and that the control unit <NUM> is configured to control the linear extensions of the linear actuator via the control signals <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is configured to receive input instructions <NUM>, from an operator via an input interface unit <NUM>, e.g. mounted in the cabin of the vehicle, or automatically from an external unit <NUM> of an autonomous system.

The folding and unfolding operation may be performed manually, but advantageously the rotating movement is done via the actuator that turns the folding structure from container position to flat-rack position and vice versa. An actuator <NUM> is provided for moving each of the folding structures, and may preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder connected to a gear wheel that is in connection with another gear wheel that is mounted to the folding structure. The gear wheels are shown in <FIG>. With the stroke of the cylinder and the ratio between the gear wheels it is possible to adjust the folding angle and speed. As an alternative, the movements may be achieved by electric motors that directly or indirectly provide the rotational movements to the folding axles.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle <NUM> comprising a load handling system <NUM> as described above. The vehicle is illustrated in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A load handling system (<NUM>) arranged to be mounted to a vehicle (<NUM>) and further arranged for supporting loading and unloading of load carrying objects (<NUM>), such as containers and flat rack containers, onto and from, the vehicle (<NUM>) from rear of the vehicle; the load handling system (<NUM>) comprises:
- a frame arrangement comprising a mounting assembly (<NUM>) arranged to be fastened to a vehicle (<NUM>) frame at a rear end of the vehicle;
- a first support member (<NUM>) and a second support member (<NUM>), wherein the first and second support members are arranged for supporting the underside of a first type of load carrying objects during loading and unloading, and
wherein the load handling system further comprises a first folding structure (<NUM>) and a second folding structure (<NUM>) respectively connecting the mounting assembly (<NUM>) with the first support member (<NUM>) and the second support member (<NUM>), and that said first and second folding structures (<NUM>, <NUM>) are configured to be moved between an unfolded position, and a folded position, wherein in the unfolded position, the first and second support members (<NUM>, <NUM>) are in their active position, and arranged to support the underside of the first type of a load carrying object (<NUM>) during a loading/unloading procedure, and wherein in the folded position, the first and second support members (<NUM>, <NUM>) are in their passive position, being a stowed position, thereby enabling use of third support members (<NUM>) arranged at the mounting assembly (<NUM>) for supporting the underside of a second type of load carrying objects (<NUM>) during loading and unloading of the second type of load carrying object (<NUM>),
characterized in that the first and second support members (<NUM>, <NUM>) are configured to be folded towards a longitudinal symmetry axis A1 of the vehicle (<NUM>).