WO1992015472A1

WO1992015472A1 - Handling device for vehicles for sideways loading and unloading

Info

Publication number: WO1992015472A1
Application number: PCT/DK1991/000073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jens Torben Lindemose Christiansen
Original assignee: BCM BROBY AS
Current assignee: BCM BROBY AS
Priority date: 1991-03-08
Filing date: 1991-03-08
Publication date: 1992-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1993-09-08

Abstract

At a handling device for vehicles for sideways unloading and loading of cargo, particularly for distribution vehicles or vehicles for persons with a motor handicap, where the truck body surface (1) is freely accessible from either side of the truck body with a view to form an arbitrary place on the longitudinal axis of the truck body from the side of the truck body picking out cargo for unloading next to the truck body and again loading returns, e.g. in the form returned empties, it is the target partly to decrease the physical load of the loading personel in such a degree, that suffering caused by physical overload with certainty can be reduced or totally prevented, and partly to do this in such a way that the construction has a little weight, is easy to operate and easily and in an economically responsible way and can be mounted on already existing vehicles. This is achieved by, in the area in or around the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck body (1,) at least one sectional beam (4) is arranged carrying at least one along itself displaceable travelling trolley (9), which is equipped with an in itself known hoisting apparatus with an articulated pivotable jib (12, 14), that partly can reach a suitable distance outside the side limitation of the truck body (1) relative to the size of the cargo, and partly can reach at least to the centerplane on an arbitrary place inside the reaching of the hoisting apparatus in the area around the actual position of the travelling trolley (9).

Description

HANDLING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES FOR SIDEWAYS LOADING AND UNLOADING .

The invention relates to a handling device for vehicles for side¬ ways unloading and loading of cargo, particularly for distribution ve¬ hicles or vehicles for persons with a motor handicap, where the truck body surface is freely accessible from either side of the truck body with a view to from an arbitrary place on the logitudinal axis of the

5 truck body from the side of the truck body picking out cargo for un¬ loading next to the truck body and again loading returns, eg. in the form of returned empties.

Such vehicles are known in the form of eg. distribution vehicles for drinking liquids, where the extent of returns in the form of boxes ι o with bottles is the same as the distributed boxes with drinking liquids in bottles. By such vehicles the boxes are put on standard pallets and piled up to a stack of five boxes so as to secure a reasonable easy acc¬ ess to the individual stack of boxes from the side of the vehicle. Cer¬ tain drawbacks are connected to this kind of distribution. The fact of

1 5 the matter is this, that the loading personnel from the side of the ve¬ hicle must be able to reach almost to the center og the truck body and from there pull the single stacks consisting of five boxes over the pal¬ let and out to the edge of the pallet or the truck body, wherefrom the boxes are lifted down manually. When the returns shall be loaded, the 0 sequence is repeated in opposite order. Those removals of the stacks of boxes, which with filled bottles weight aproximately 110 kg, con¬ stitute an extremely large load of the physique of the loading person¬ nel, and back and/or joint injuries are a direct consequence of those working conditions. Also, when the drinking liquids are distributed in 5 barrels, the loading personnel is exposed to large physical actions with the same consequences in the form of back and/or joint injuries.

It is also known to use automatic tailboards to the distribution vehicles for drinking liquids. Here the loading personnel cannot get access to the cargo from the side of the vehicle but have to procure 0 access by the automatic tailboard. This is, however, awkward, when the returns is put on the truck body and thereby blocks the access to the remaining cargo. Further, cargo can not be picked out from the truck body surface from arbitrary pallets, which results in a large ti¬ me consumption by loading and unloading, and consequently a redu- 5 ced economy, whcih is caused both by the increased time consumption and the need for using more vehicles for the distribution of the same quantity. The inventor has, therefore, set himself the target of partly de¬ creasing the physical load of the loading personnel in such a degree, that suffering caused by physical overload with certainty can be redu¬ ced or totally prevented, and partly doing this is such a way that the 5 construction has a little weight, is easy to operate and easily and in an economically responsible way can be mounted on already existing ve¬ hicles.

This object can according to the invention be met in that in the area in or around the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck ι o body at least one sectional beam is arranged carrying at least one along itself displaceable travelling trolley, which is equipped with an in itself known hoisting apparatus with an articulated pivotable jib, that partly can reach a suitable distance outside the side limitation of the truck body relative to the size of the cargo, and partly can reach at 5 least to the centerplane on an arbitrary place inside the reaching of the hoisting apparatus in the area around the actual position of the travelling trolley.

At distributing vehicles, where in the longitudinal vertical cen¬ terplane of the truck body a partition wall is mounted, a specially 0 suitable handling device is established in that the sectional beam is mounted on top of the partition wall. With this arrangement an easy mounting on existing vehicles is procured in that the sectional beam is fixed on the partition wall, which is taking over the proper load. In new constructions it is, however, suitable, if the the sectional beam 5 can be integrated in the partition wall.

If the handling device is to be used in a vehicle, where over the truck body a covering is mounted, eg. in the form of a roof, it is suit¬ able if the sectional beam is mounted immediately under the covering. Thereby the largest possible lift is secured and in the same time a 0 possibillity is established for that the loading personnel is not injured during loading operations.

In a suitable version of the handling device the travelling trolley concerning energizing the hoisting apparatus is equipped with an energy accumulator, eg. in the form of an electrochemical accumulator. 5 Thereby the cargo can be loaded without the necessity of draining energy from the distribution vehicle itself. Distributing in cities it is known, that the distributing vehicles have troubles with the energy supply for starting or stopping, and in vehicles mounted with automa- tic tailboards such troubles can be increased. If the hoisting apparatus on the travelling trolley is electrically operated it is possible to regain energy easing off and thereby establishing a good economy.

At the handling device according to the invention it is further suitable to take out the operating panel of the hoisting apparatus to the the side of the truck body, where it simultaneously serves the purpose of positioning the travelling trolley, thereby being manually removable. Further, pivoting of the pivotable jib takes place through manually influence of the jib. Such manually removal is often faster than a motor driven removal of the travelling trolley and the jib, and the loading personnel can thereby easier avoid collisions with other cargo on the truck body.

If only one travelling trolley is mounted on the sectional beam, it is suitable if the sectional beam considering moving the travelling trolley from one side of the truck body to the other is made with a curvature in the one end. Thereby it is achieved that the travelling trolley can be driven from one side to the other and need no demount¬ ing and remounting on the sectional beam during such transfer, it is further suitable, if the sectional beam in the curved end is terminated in such distance from the termination of the truck body surface that the travelling trolley or parts of it during the transfer from one side to the other will not reach beyond the side limitation of the truck body.

The application of the handling device according to the invention is primary directed toward distributon vehicles for drinking liquids, but could also be applied transporting persons with a motor handicap in wheel chairs or the like, if the sectional beam is mounted in eg. the truck body and the vehicles accomodated for this have loading access¬ ibility from the side of the vehicle. In this way, picking up and distri¬ buting persons with a motor handicap to/from different institutions and homes will be easier and time-saving, and the unloading and load¬ ing can take place in an arbitrary sequence so as to let the driver choose the optimum route.

The invention will be further illustrated below with reference to the drawing in which an embodiment is shown, directed toward the application in a distribution vehicle for drinking liquids.

fig. 1 a schematic view of a distribution vehicle with a sectio¬ nal beam according to the invention, - - fig. 2 a schem atic view of a s ection of a distribution vehicle with a sectional beam according to the invention, fig. 3 the truck body surface of a distribution vehicle with a sectional beam according to the invention, seen from ₅ above, and fig. 4 a section of a sectional beam according to the invention.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 a distribution vehicle for drinking liquids is seen with a truck body surface 1 and a pallet 31 ι o standing on the truck body surface 1 with piled boxes 32. The pallets with the boxes are loaded from the side of the vehicle with an ordi¬ nary forklift. It is seen, that nine stacks 30, each of which with five boxes 32, can be put on each pallet 31. In fig. 1 the truck body surface 1 is covered with a roof 2 and terminated with a rear wall 3. A parti-

15 tion wall 8, which is not shown in detail, is mounted in the longitudi¬ nal vertical centerplane of the truck body, and on top of the partition wall 8 a sectional beam 4 according to the invention is placed, so as to let the partion wall 8 carry the sectional beam 4. In the sectional beam 4 roller surfaces are arranged for the travelling trolley, where 0 the roller surface 5 at the top counteracts a pull directed away from the sectional beam 4, the roller surface 6 is carrying the travelling trolley and its load, whereas the roller surface 7 below counteracts a pressure directed towards the sectional beam.

In fig. 2 a schematic view of a section of a distribution vehicle 5 with a sectional beam 4 according to the invention. Further a view of the travelling trolley 9 is shown with its suspension consisting of the wheels 15, 16 and 17 and jibs 12, 14. The jib 12 is fastened rigidly to the travelling trolley 9 and is in the side direction secured by braces 10 and in vertical direction by a brace 11. Between the jibs 12 and 14 0 a joint 13 is provided at the free end of the jib 12 for the slewing of the jib 14, whereby the horizontal transport of a stack 30 of boxes takes place mainly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the ve¬ hicle, whereas the transport in the longitudinal direction takes place by moving the travelling trolley 9 along the sectional beam 4. Thereby 5 it is secured, that a stack 30 can be transported out from the center of the truck body surface at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the truck body surface and at the same time avoid collisions with ad¬ jacent stacks 30. The the depicted roller surfaces 5, 6 and 7 support the wheels 15, 16 and 17 in such a way, that the wheel 15 is rolling on the vertical roller surface 5, and the wheels 16 securing the verti¬ cal positioning of the travelling trolley 9 are rolling on the horizontal roller surface 6, whereas the wheel 17 is rolling on the vertical roller

5 surface 7. The hoisting apparatus itself fastened to the jib 14 is not shown in detail, as the working out is not decisive for the handling de¬ vice and should be adjusted to the purpose. The only condition for the hoisting apparatus is that its lift should be sufficient high for securing a free lift and an easing off of the cargo from the truck body. With the ι o dotted line 18 a possible positioning of an accumulator for energizing or energy depot for the hoisting apparatus.

In fig. 3 a part of the handling device is seen from above, where¬ by it is seen, that the secational beam 4 considering moving the tra¬ velling trolley 9 from one side of the truck body 1 to the other is

15 made like a cirkular track in the one end. Further, the roller surface 5 and the travelling trolley 9 with the jibs 12, 14, the joint 13 and the braces 10 are seen. Also, the wheel 15 is indicated schematically. With the shown travelling trolley 9 it is seen, that te handling device can reach out to all positions on the tryack body surface 1 and from there 0 pick up cargo for uloading anf for reinstallment of eventual returns, eg. in the form of returned empties. An operating panel as such for the hoisting apparatus is not shown, as such can be fastened arbitrary to the travelling trolley 9, if only it is secured, that the operating pa¬ nel can be reached by the loading personnel out from the edge of the 5 truck body surfacel.

The preferred section of the sectional beam 4 in the embodiment is shown in fig. 4. On the top is seen the roller surface 5, being made by bending up the outer edge of a horizontal sheet 41. On the external side the roller surface is stiffened by eg. spot welding to the side 42 of 0 the sectional beam 4, and it is installed in a certain distance from the vertical centerplane. This distance is not essential for the invention as such, but only serves the purpose to increase the torsional stability of the sectional beam 4. Below the spot welding the horizontal roller sur¬ face 6 is made in the section side 42, supporting the wheels 16, which 5 secure the vertical positioning of the travelling trrolley 9. From this roller surface 6 the side 42 of the sectinal beam is reach inclined downwards and inwards towards the roller surface 7, which in the embodiment shown is made with an ordinary square bar iron 44, whi- ch is welded to the lower limitation of the section side 42 itself of the sectional beam 4. Thereby an improved mechanical stability is secu¬ red, as the sectional side 42 on top of the square bar iron 44 is welded to the other sectional side 43 being symmetrical to the sectional side 42 and together with this, the top side 41, and the square bar iron 44 forms the sectinal beam 4.

With the handling device according to the invention a consider¬ able reduction of the physical load of the loading personnel is secured, whereby the number of back and/or joint injuries with certainty is deminished. Further the construction has such little weight, that no drastical displacement of the centre of gravity for the vehicle takes place, and the handling device itself will not make more economic de¬ mands than up to now known similar constructions, eg. automatic tail¬ boards. The handling device according to the invention can further ea¬ sily be built in on allready existing vehicles, which means that the handling device easily can be disseminated through export and be mounted locally.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. Handling device for vehicles for sideways unloading and loading of cargo, particularly for distribution vehicles or vehicles for persons with a motor handicap, where the truck body surface (1) is freely ac- cessible from either side of the truck body with a view to from an ar¬ bitrary place on the logitudinal axis of the truck body from the side of the truck body picking out cargo for unloading next to the truck body and again loading returns, eg. in the form returned empties, cha¬ racterized in, that in the area in or around the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck body (1) at least one sec¬ tional beam (4) is arranged carrying at least one along itself displace- able travelling trolley (9), which is equipped with an in itself known hoisting apparatus with an articulated pivotable jib (12, 14), that part¬ ly can reach a suitable distance outside the side limitation of the truck body (1) relative to the size of the cargo, and partly can reach at least to the centerplane on an arbitrary place inside the reaching of the hoisting apparatus in the area around the actual position of the tra¬ velling trolley (9).

2. Handling device according to claim 1, where in the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck body (1) a partition wall (8) is arran¬ ged, c h ar acteri ze d in, th at the sectional beam (4) is mounted on top of the partition wall (8).

3. Handling device according to claim 1, where in the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck body (1) a partition wall (8) is arran- ged, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t the sectional beam (4) is integrated in the partition wall (8).

4. Handling device according to claim 1 or 2, where over the truck body surface a covering is mounted, eg. in the form of a roof, cha¬ racteri ze d in, that the sectional beam (4) is mounted immediately under the covering.

5. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, cha¬ racterized in, that the travelling trolley (9) con¬ cerning energizing the hoisting apparatus is equipped with an energy accumulator, eg. in the form of an electrochemical accumulator. 6. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, cha¬ rac teri z e d in, th at the operating panel of the hoisting apparatus is taken out to the the side of the truck body (1), where it simultaneously serves the purpose of positioning the travell¬ ing trolley (9) along the sectional beam (4).

7. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, cha¬ racterized in, that the sectional beam (4) consi-

5 dering moving the travelling trolley (9) from one side of the truck body (1) to the other is made with a curvature in the one end.

8. Handling device according to claim 1, characteri¬ zed in, that the sectional beam (4) in the curved end is terminated in such distance from the termination of the truck body

10 surface (1) that the travelling trolley (9) or parts of it during the transfer from one side to the other will not reach beyond the side li¬ mitation of the truck body (1).

9. Application of the handling device according to any of the pre¬ vious claims for distribution vehicles for drinking liquids.

15 10. Application of the handling device according to any of the claims 1 to 8 as vehicles for persons with a motor handicap.

0

[received by the International Bureau on 8 July 1992 (08.07.92) ; original claims 9 and 10 cancelled ; original claims 1 and 2 replaced by amended claim 1 ; new claim 4 added ; other claims unchanged but renumbered accordingly (2 pages)]

1. Handling device for vehicles for sideways loading and unloading of cargo, particularly for distribution vehicles, where in the longitudi¬ nal vertical centerplane of the truck body a partition wall (8) is mounted, and where the truck body surface (1) is freely accessible

5 from either side of the truck body with a view to from an arbitrary place on the logitudinal axis of the truck body from the side of the truck body (1) picking out cargo for unloading next to the truck body and again loading returns, eg. in the form returned empties, which is lifted upwards outside the side limitation of the truck body, c h a - lo r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t one and only one sectio¬ nal beam (4) is mounted in the longitudinal vertical centerplane of the truck body (1), that the sectional beam (4) is mounted on top of the partition wall (8) and is carried by this, and where the sectional beam (4) at least is carrying one along itself displaceable travelling

15 trolley (9), which is equipped with an in itself know hoisting appara¬ tus with an articulated pivotable jib (12, 14), that partly can reach a suitable distance outside the side limitation of the truck body (1) rela¬ tive to the size of the cargo, and partly can reach at least to the parti¬ tion wall (8) on an arbitrary place along this.

202. Handling device according to claim ^ c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n, t h a t the sectional beam (4) is integrated in the partition wall (8).

3. Handling device according to claim 1 or 2, where over the truck body surface a covering is mounted, eg. in the form of a roof, c h a -

25 r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t the sectional beam (4) is mounted immediately under the covering.

4. Handling device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n, t h a t the sectional beam is supporting the covering.

305. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t the travelling trolley (9) concerning energizing the hoisting apparatus is equipped with an energy accumulator, eg. in the form of an electrochemical accumula¬ tor.

356. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t the operating panel of the hoisting apparatus is taken out to the the side of the truck body (1), where it simultaneously serves the purpose of positioning the tra¬ velling trolley (9) along the sectional beam (4).

7. Handling device according to any of the previous claims, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d i n, t h a t the sectional beam (4) considering moving the travelling trolley (9) from one side of the truck body (1) to the other is made with a curvature in the one end.

8. Handling device according to claim 1, c har a c t e r i ¬ z e d in, th at the sectional beam (4) in the curved end is terminated in such distance from the termination of the truck body surface (1) that the travelling trolley (9) or parts of it during the transfer from one side to the other will not reach beyond the side li¬ mitation of the truck body (1).

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

In the above mentioned PCT-Application we have made the following Amendment of the set og claims, as in the ingress of claim 1 the state of the art is specified in, that the partition wall is a well known remedy for separating the cargo, which is loaded and unloaded from the side of the truck body. This configuration is a normal appearence of a distribution vehicle for beer and mineral water, as accessability from the end of the truck body is difficult and gives no general view of the cargo. This type of distribution vehicles are normally filled both with the cargo and with returned empties, so that the volume of the cargo is more or less constant. This gives no space for manoeuvring on the truck body.

The subject matter of claim 1 is mainly the sectional beam mounted in a specific way on top of the partition wall, and the displaceable travelling trolley with the hoist¬ ing apparatus and the articulated, pivotable jib. Thereby it can be seen, that the subject matter of the previous claims 1 and 2 is now concentrated in claim 1.

The orginal claims 9 and 10 are cancelled and a new claim 4 is introduced, where¬ by the sectional beam is arranged so as to support the covering. The rest of the claims are kept unchanged except where a renumbering was necessary.

A complete translation of the original specification will be filed by 18 JUL 92 and those parts of the specification, that need amendment caused by the amended claims, will be filed at the same occasion.

Bearing in mind, that the invention is directed towards a handling device for ve¬ hicles for sideways loading and unloading of cargo, particularly for distribution ve¬ hicles being loaded and unloaded from the side of the truck body, it is seen, that the in¬ vention is new, has an inventive step and i industrially applicable.