AU2006200964B2 - Method and apparatus for loading containers - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: ROBERT TREVOR O'KEEFE Actual Inventor: ROBERT TREVOR O'KEEFE Address for Service: JOHN R.G. GARDNER Invention title: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING CONTAINERS Details of Associated Provisional Applications No: 2006900175 filed 16 January 2006 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it know to me:- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING CONTAINERS Technical Field This invention relates to method and apparatus for loading containers, in particular sea or cargo containers, onto the tray of a vehicle, typically a road vehicle.

Background Art Cargo or sea containers are used commonly for transporting of goods either on land or at sea on ships. Such containers are generally of a rectangular parallelepiped configuration so as to enable the containers to be stacked one on top of the other or to enable the containers to be supported on a flat deck of a ship or flat tray of a transport vehicle such as a railway car or truck tray. Containers are usually provided with doors at at least one end to provide access to the interior of the container and corner fittings or sockets are provided at each corner of the container for engagement by connecting devices to secure the container to the deck of a ship or tray of a transport vehicle or to secure containers together. The connecting device include elongated apertures on the lower side of the container for receipt of rotatable cleats or lugs of the connecting devices which are receivable within the apertures and which are rotatable to lock the containers in position. Apertures are also provided in the corner fittings on the top, sides and ends of the container so that containers stacked upon each other can be locked together or adjacent containers locked together by similar connecting devices in an endto-end or side-by-side position.

A particularly difficulty occurs when a container which is on the ground is to be loaded onto a road vehicle having a flat bed or tray. Usually the vehicle bed or tray (which is often slidably mounted to the vehicle chassis) is tilted to an inclined position and moved into longitudinal alignment with the container and adjacent to an end of the container and a winch cable from a winch arranged centrally and forwardly of the tray is coupled to the container. Sometimes a chain, although not authorised, is used with or instead of the cable. When the winch is operated, the container is intended to be drawn onto the tray. It is not uncommon however for the end of the container to abut the end of the tray which thereby prevents the container from being winched onto the tray of the vehicle. The result of this occurring is that a substantial load is then placed onto the winch cable and/or chain. If this tension is not released rapidly for example by stopping winch operation, breakage of the cable and/or chain can occur. Breakage of the chain and/or cable is extremely dangerous and can result in severe injuries and even death in 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001181755943980 John R G Gardner 44 IF AUSTRALIA Z 04 003 o the event that a chain or cable strikes a person in the region of the tray.

Sumlmary of the Invention The present invention aims to provide an improved method and apparatus fo r loading containers typically cargo or shipping containers onto a tray of a vehicle. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The present invention thus provides in a first preferred aspect a method of loading a container onto a vehicle having a flat-bed tray and elongated guides extending 0 along opposite sides of said tray, said container having corner connectors or fittings at oN 10 least at the lower corners thereof, said method comprising the steps of providing an 0 elongated draw bar assembly, said draw bar assembly having means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate with said guides, positioning said draw bar assembly at the leading lower end of said con-tainer, releasably attaching said draw bar assembly to opposite said corner connectors or fittings on the front side of said container such that said draw bar assembly extends tansversely of said container adjacent a lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, inclining said tray and positioning the Wrailing end of said tray adjacent the leading end of said container, and appiying a pulling force to said draw bar assembly to drag said container towards the trailing end of said tray such that said draw bar initially contacts said inclined fray and cooperates with said inclined tray to elevate the leading end of said container and facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said means at opposite ends of said draw bar assembly cooperate in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto the tray.

The present invention in a further preferred aspect apparatus for loading a container ftrm a ground surface onto a vehicle having a flat-bed tray and elongated guides extending along opposite sides of said fray, said container having corner connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said a-pparatus comprising a drawbar assembly, releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said draw bar assembly to opposite said corner connectors or fittings at the front side of said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extcnds transversely of said container and is positioned adjacent a lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, and means for applying a pulling force to said draw bar assembly to cause in use said draw bar assernbly and container secured thereto to be pulled towards the COMS ID No: ARCS-187158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001161755943980 John R G Gardiner IP AUSTRALIA 1a05 004 o trailing end of said inclined tray such that said draw bar assembly contacts said inclined tray and cooperates with said inclined tray to elevate the leading end of said container to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar assembly includes meats at opposite ends thereof adapted for cooperation in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto the tray.

The container typically is of the type used for containing goods for transport on ships, vehicles or railways being of rectangular parallelepiped configuration and includes o at least at its opposite lower leading corners and suitably at all corn, corner connectors or fittings which faicilitate securing of the conitainer in position or interconnection of oN 10 adjacent containers either one above the other or in end-to -end or side-to-side 0 relationship. Such corner fittings usually have elongated openings positioned. at the front and rear and opposite sides of the container and also at the top and bottom of the container at each corner.

The draw bar assembly suitably comprises an elongated draw bar and the means for releasably securing the draw bar assembly to the container suitably includes means at or adjacent opposite ends of the draw bar adapted for connection to respective corner fittings or connectors at the opposite lower corners of the container.

Preferably means at opposite ends of the draw bar assembly comprise opposite beveled ends of the draw bar which converge towards each other from the normally trailing end to the normally leading end of the draw bar. Preferably the ends of the draw bar are provided with converging end plates which are adapted to cooperate with the guides on the tray. Guide flanges suitably extend fromn the ends plates, the guide flanges suitably extending beyond the normally leading end of the draw bar and converging towards each other. Preferably the angle of convergence between the guide flanges is greater than the angle of convergence between the beveled ends of the draw bar.

The releasable attachment means suitably include a locking member receivable in an opening in a corner fitting or connector. Means are suitably provided for causing the locking member to engage the corner fitting or connector through the opening. Such means may comprise means for selectively rotating or pivoting the locking member to connect and lock the locking member and thus draw bar to the container.

The locking member is suitably mounted for rotation to the draw bar and the means for selectively rotating the locking member may comprise a manually operable mem-ber rotatable with the locking member. The manually operable member may COMS ID No: ARCS-i 87158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001161735943980 John R G Gardner 44. IF AUSTRALIA 1?OG 00 o comprise a handle. Preferably the locking member is rotatable 90 degrees in opposite directions between an engaged position in which the locking member is engaged with a corner finting via an op ening therein and a disengaged position in which the locking member may be inserted into Or withdrawni from the opening in the corner fitting.

Preferably the locking member is mounted at one end of a shaft or rod mounted for rotation) to the draw bar. The manually operable mneans is suitably connected to the IND opposite end of the shaft or rod. Su~itably detent means are provided to define the o engaged and disengaged position of the locking member. The detent means is suitably c-i cooperable with the shaft or rod. Preferably the detent means comprises a spring-loaded oN 10 ball and the shaft or rod is provided with recesses to receive the spring-loaded ball in the 0 engaged and disenigaged positions of the locking member. Preferably the recesses are located at 90 degrees from each other.

Preferably the draw bar assembly includes a central attachment device. The central attachment device suitably comprises an apertured plate arranged centrally of and at the leading end of the draw bar.

The means for applying a pulling force to the draw bar assembly suitably comprises means to move the draw bar assembly and container onto the tray. Such means may comprise a winch. The winch may include a cable and/or chain adapted to be coupled to the draw bar assembly. The cable and/or chain is suitably adapted to be attached to the central attachment device through any form of connection such as a shackle.

The present invention in yet a !Further aspect provides a draw bar assembly adapted to be attached to a container for use in moving said container onto a vehicle having an inclined flat-bed -tray and elongated guides at opposite sides of said tray, said container having corner connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said draw bar assembly including an elongated draw bar, means on said draw bar for releasably attaching said draw bar to opposite said corner connectors or fittings at the front lower side of' said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extends transversely of said container and is positioned adjacent the lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, said draw bar assembly being adapted to engage the trailing end of said inclined tray to cooperate therewith and elevate the leading end of said container when said draw bar assembly is moved towards said inclined tray to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar includes COMS ID No: ARCS-157158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/104 2008 10:04 FAX 001181755943980 John R G Gardner IP AUSTRALIA 0O7 00 o means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate in use wit said guides to guide said container centrally onto said tray.

in another aspect, the present invention provides a load carrying vehicle having a flat-bed tray muoveable between an inclined loading and unloading attitude and a substantially horizontal load carrying attitude,. said tray having elongated guides at opposite sides thereof, and loading apparatus for loading a container from a ground surface onto said tray in its inclined loading attitude, said container having corner o connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said loading apparatus 0 including a drawbar assembly, said draw bar assembly having releasable attachment No 10 means for releasably attaching said draw bar assembly to opposite said corner connectors 0 or fittings at the front side of said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extends transversely of said container and extends forwardly thiereof and is positioned adjacent a lower edge of said container, and means on said vehicle for applying a pulling force to said draw bar assembly to cause in use said drawbar assemnbly and container attached thereto to be dragged along said ground surface towards said tray such that said draw bar initially contacts said inclined tray and cooperates therewith to elevate the leading end of said container to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar assemrbly further includes means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto said tray.

The means for applying a pulling force suitably comprises a winch on said vehicle having a winch cable coupled to said draw bar assem bly. The tray suitably comprises a -flat bed tray and is provided with guides along opposite side edges thereof and wherein said draw bar assembly includes means at the opposite ends thereof adapited for cooperation in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto the tray.

Brief Description of the Drawings Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in, side elevation and plan view a drawbar assembly according to an embo~dimnent of the invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along line A-A of Fig. I showing a locking mechanism of the draw bar assembly; Fig. 4 illustrates in elevation the draw plate of the draw bar assembly; Fig. 5 illulstrates a container in position in relation to the draw bar assembly and COMS ID No: ARCS-187158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001161755943980 John R G Gardner IP AUSTRALIA t08 00

O

O tray of a road vehicle prior to loading onto the vehicle tray; SFig. 6 illustrates the position of the tray of a road vehicle relative to a container with the draw bar assembly attached to the container for loading the container on to the tray; Figs. 7 to 9 illustrates the steps in loading the container onto the vehicle tray.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment 0 Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a draw bar 0 assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention adapted to be

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0 0 ci COMS ID No: ARCS-187158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 coupled to a container for facilitating the loading of the container onto a vehicle tray typically a road vehicle tray. The draw bar assembly 10 includes an elongated hollow beam 11 which is typically fabricated of bisalloy but which may be formed of other materials. Opposite ends 12 of the beam 11 are correspondingly beveled such that the beam 11 has a shorter length at its normally leading end 13 relative to its trailing end 14.

The beveled ends 12 of the beam are provided with end guide members in the form of end plates 15 secured to the ends 12 by welding. The end plates 13 thus converge towards each other. Flanges 16 extend from the end plates 15, the flanges 16 extending forwardly of the leading end 13 of the beam 11 and also converging towards each other at a greater extent than the convergence of the end plates 13. Thus the included angle between the flanges 16 is greater than the angle between the ends 12 and thus the plates Container attachment devices 17 are provided at opposite ends of the beam 11, each attachment device 17 as shown also in Fig. 3 including a locking bar 18 in the form of a solid cylindrical rod received rotatably in a bearing-like manner in a locking bar housing 19 fixed within the hollow beam 11 and extending between and opening to the leading and trailing ends 13 and 14 of the beam 11. The locking bar housing 19 is of a hollow cylindrical configuration to neatly and rotatably receive the locking bar 18 and is welded in position to the beam 11. A radially extending handle 20 is fixed to one end of the locking bar 18 at the leading end 13 of the beam 11 whilst the opposite end of the locking bar 18 is provided with a cam-like off-centre engagement lug 21 fixed for rotation with the bar 18.

A detent mechanism 23 is associated with the locking bar 18 on the trailing side 14 of the beam 11 to positively locate the locking bar 16 in two rotational positions. The detent mechanism 23 comprises a detent housing 24 fixed to trailing side 14 of the beam 11, the housing 24 having radially extending passages 25, each passage carrying a detent ball 26 and spring 27 held in position by a grub screw 28. The locking bar 16 has recesses 29 in its outer surface adapted to received the detent balls 26 positioned at ninety degrees to each other so that a detent is provided to the locking bar 16 in two positions at ninety degrees to each other corresponding to engaged and disengaged positions of the locking bar 18 and corner attachment devices 17.

A draw plate 30 shown more clearly in Fig. 4 is fixed to the leading end 13 of the beam 11 through a stiffening plate 31 by welding at a position centrally of the beam 11.

The draw plate 30 includes a coupling opening 32 which is chamfered at 33 around its edges. The opening 32 is of a somewhat diamond shape in form with the apex 34 of the opening 30 being positioned centrally of the draw plate 30 so as to provide for selfcentering of an attachment device such as a shackle coupled to the draw plate 30 through the opening 32.

The draw bar assembly 10 is adapted to be coupled to a container 35 shown in Fig. 5 of the type having corner connectors, fittings or sockets 36 (which may be in the form of castings) at its respective corners, each of which has three elongated openings 37 which are positioned on the side and end and top or bottom of the container 35. The openings 37 are normally used for fixing the container 35 to a vehicle tray or ship deck or for interconnecting containers in end-to-end, side to side or top to bottom relationship using suitably connecting device.

The container attachment devices 17 of the draw bar assembly 10 are spaced apart the same distance as the distance between corner fittings 36 at opposite sides of the container 35 so that the engagement lugs 21 can be aligned with the spaced openings 37 at the lower forward end of the container The draw bar assembly 10 is designed for use with a vehicle 38 of the type having a tiltable flat-bed tray 39 mounted for tilting and/or tilt-slide movement relative to the chassis of the vehicle 38, the tray 39 as shown in Fig. 6 being provided with a winch 40 arranged centrally of and at the leading end of the tray 39. The tray 39 additionally is provided with longitudinally extending upstanding guides 41 along opposite side edges of the tray 39. The tray 39 additionally includes at its trailing end 42, a ramp 43 to assist in guiding a load such as the container 35 onto the tray 39.

To load a container 35 on the ground onto the tray 39 using the draw bar assembly 10, the vehicle 38 is operated to tilt and move the tray 39 rearwardly and such that the tray 39 is aligned longitudinally with the container 35 with the trailing end 42 of the tray 39 positioned adjacent the leading end of the container 35 as in Figs. 6. The draw bar assembly 10 then has its draw plate 30 connected through a coupling such as a shackle 44 to the winch cable 45 and is positioned so as to extend substantially normal to the container 35. The respective attachment devices 17 are then engaged with the corner fittings 36 at the leading lower end and at opposite sides of the container 36. For this purpose, the handles 20 are rotated ninety degrees as determined by the detent mechanisms 23 to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3 so that the locking lugs 21 on the locking bars are aligned with and can be inserted into the elongated openings 37. When the handles 20 are rotated back ninety degrees, the lugs 21 will locate behind the openings 37 so that the draw bar assembly 10 becomes attached to the container The winch 40 may then be operated to apply a tension to the cable 45 so as to drag the draw bar assembly 10 and attached container 35 towards the tray 39. The draw bar assembly 10 being at the leading lower end of the container 35 will firstly engage the ramp 43 and as it is pulled up the ramp 43 will elevate the leading end of the container as shown in Fig 7. This will thus provide a smooth transition of the leading end of the container 35 onto the tray 39. In addition in this movement, the flanges 16 and then the end plates 15 on the opposite ends of the beam 11 will engage and cooperate with the guides 41 along opposite sides of the tray 39 and guide the container 35 centrally onto the tray 39. Any misalignment between the container 35 and tray 39 during loading will be corrected by cooperation between the guides 41 on opposite sides of the tray 39 and the angled guide plates 15 and/or flanges which serve to centralise the draw bar 10 and container 35 relative to the tray 39.

Continued operation of the winch 40 will cause the drawbar assembly 10 and attached container 35 to be pulled further onto the tray 39 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

When the container 35 is positioned as required on the tray 39 (such as when the container corner fittings 36 are aligned with corresponding fittings on the tray 39), the tray 39 can be pivoted back to a horizontal position. The draw bar assembly 10 can then be detached from the container 35 by rotating the handles 20 back to a position where they extend at right angles to the beam 11. This allows detachment of the lugs 21 from the openings 37. The container 35 can then be transported as required by the vehicle 38.

The draw bar assembly 10 thus prevents direct contact between the end of the container 35 and trailing end 42 of the tray 39 and furthermore by initially contacting the ramp 43 will elevate the leading end of the container 35 to facilitate its transfer onto the tray 39.

The draw bar assembly 10 may be constructed in an alternative manner to that described in the embodiment above and furthermore the container attachment devices 17 may be in configurations other than that described. Any attachment device which can releasably engage with the opposite corner fittings or connectors 36 of the container will be suitable for this purpose.

Whilst it is preferred that the container 35 be pulled onto the tray via a winching arrangement, other means such as hydraulic means may be used for this purpose.

The draw bar assembly 11 may be used with any form of vehicle having a tipping and or a slide/tipping tray.

The terms "comprising" or "comprises" as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A method of loading a container onto a. vehicle having a flat-bed tray and elongated guides extending along opposite sides of said tray, said container having corner connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said method comprising the steps of providing an. elongated draw bar assembly, said draw bar assembly having means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate with said guides, positioning said draw bar assembly at the leading lower end of said container, releasably 0 attaching said draw bar assembly to opposite said corner connectors or fittings on the IND front side of said container such that said draw bar assemnbly extends transversely of said o container adjacent a lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, inclining said fray and positioning the wrailing end of said fray adjacent the leading end of said container, and applying a pulling force to said draw bar assembly to drag said container towards the wrailing end of said tray such that said draw bar initially contacts said inclined tray and cooperates with said inclined tray to elevate the leading end of said container and facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said means at opposite ends of said draw bar assembly cooperate in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto the tray.

2. Apparatus for loading a container from a ground surface onto a vehicle having a flat-bed fray and elongated guides extending along opposite sides of said tray, said container having comet Connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said apparatus comprising a drawbar assembly, releasable attachment means for releasbly attaching said draw bar assemrbly to opposite said corner connectors or fittings at the front side of said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extends transversely of said container and is positioned adjacent a lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, and means for applying a pulling force to said draw bar assembly to cause in use said draw bar assembly and container secured thereto to be pulled towards the trailing end of said inclined tray such that said draw bar assembly contacts said inclined tray and cooperates with said inclined tray to elevate the leading end of said container to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar assembly includes means, at opposite ends thereof adapted for cooperation in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto the tray. COMS ID No: ARCS-i 87158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001161755943980 John R G Gardner 44 IP AUSTRALIA 0 oI3 Apparatuis as claimed in claim 2 wherein said draw bar assembly comprising an elongated draw bar with said releasable attachment means provided adjacent opposite ends of said draw bar.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said opposite ends of' the draw bar are angled to each other and converge towards each other from the normally trailing end to the normally leading end of the draw bar to define said means at said opposite ends of C,.'said draw-bar assembly. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said opposite ends of said draw bar are o provided with converging end plates which are adapted to cooperate in use with the guides on the tray.

6- Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and including guide flanges extending from the end plates and beyond the normally leading end of the draw bar, said guide flanges converging towards each other.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein said container corner fittings or connectors include eloiigated openings at least on the front side of said container and wherein said each releasable attachment means comprise a looking member adapted to extend into a said elongated opening and including means for selectively rotating or pivoting the locking member to engage the locking member with said fitting or connector and thus connect the draw bar to the front side of said container.

8. Apparatus as. claimed in claim 7 wherein each said locking member is mounted to the draw bar for rotation through 90 degrees in opposite directions between an engaged position in which said locking member is engaged with a said opening and a disengaged position in which the locking member may be inserted into or withdrawn from the opening.

9. Apparatus as, claimed in claim 8 wherein said locking member is provided at one end of a shaft or rod mounted for rotation to the draw bar and including manually operable means for rotating the shaft or rod, said manually operable means being at the COMS ID No: ARCS-i 871 58 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 20108 10:04 FAX 001161758943980 John R G Gardner AUSTRALIA 1 0c' 12 o end of the shaft or rod opposite said locking member. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 and including detent means cooperable with the shaft or rod f1or defining the engaged and disengaged positions of the locking member.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said detent means comprises a spring- loaded ball and wherein said shaft or rod is provided with recesses to receive the spring- o loaded ball in the engaged and disengaged positions of the locking member. o12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to I I wherein said draw bar 0 assembly includes an attachment device arranged centrally relative to opposite ends of said draw bar and wherein in said means for applying a pulling force to the draw bar assembly comprises, a winch having a cable and/or chain adapted to be coupled to the draw bar assembly via said attachment device.

13. A draw bar assembly adapted. to be attached to a container for use in moving said container onto a vehicle having an inclined flat-bed tray and elongated guides at opposite sides of said tray, said container having corner connectors or fittings at least at the lower corners thereof, said draw bar assembly including an elongated draw bar, means on said draw bar for releasably attaching said draw bar to opposite said corner connectors or fittings at the front lower side of said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extends transversely of said container and is positioned adjacent the lower edge of said container and extends forwardly of said container, said draw bar assembly being adapted to engage the trailing end of said inclined fray to cooperate therewith and elevate the leading end of said container when said draw bar assembly is moved towards said inclined tray to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar includes means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto said fray.

14. A draw bar assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein said container corner fittings or connectors include elongated openings at least on the front side of said container and wherein said each releasable attachment means comprise a locking member mounted rotatably to said draw bar and adapted to extend into a said elongated COMS ID No: ARCS-i 871 58 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001101788943980 John R G Gardner .44 IF AUSTRALIA IM12 00 13 0 opening. A load carrying vehicle having a flat-bed tray mnoveable between an inclined loading and unloading attitude and a substantially horizontal load can~ying attitude, said tray having elongated guides at opposite sides thereof, and loading apparatus for loading a container from a ground surface onto said tray in its inclined loading attitude, said IND container having corner connectors or fittings at least at the lower comars thereof, said loading apparatus including a drawbar assemnbly, said draw bar assembly having releasable attachment means for releasably attaching said draw bar assembly to opposite o said corner connectors or fittings at the front side of said container such that said draw bar assembly in use extends transversely of said container and extends forwardly thereof and is positioned adjacent a lower edge of said container, and means on said vehicle for applying a pulling force to said d-raw bar assembly to cause in use said draw-bar assembly and container attached thereto to be dragged along said ground surface towards said fray such that said draw bar initially contacts said inclined tray and cooperates therewith to elevate the leading end of said container to facilitate loading of said container onto said tray and wherein said draw bar assembly.fiurther includes means at opposite ends thereof adapted to cooperate in use with said guides to guide said container centrally onto said fray.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for applying a pulling force comprises a winch on said vehicle having a winch cable coupled centally to said draw bar assembly.

17. A method for loading a container onto the inclined tray of a vehicle substantially as hereinibefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings

18. Apparatus for loading a container onto the inclined tray of a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A draw bar assembly for use in loading a container into the inclined tray of a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: ARCS-187158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17 17/04 2008 10:04 FAX 001161755943980 John R G Gardner IP AUSTRALIA 113 00 14 A load carrying vehicle having a draw bar assembly for use in loading a container onto the inclined tray of said vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 17th day of April 2008 TILT TRAYS ENTERPRISES PTY LTD COMS ID No: ARCS-187158 Received by IP Australia: Time 10:34 Date 2008-04-17