Trailer-type vehicle for lifting, transporting, and depositing loads

A vehicle for lifting, transporting, and depositing a load, comprising lower frame means of substantially U-shaped configuration having a front transverse bar means adapted to be attached to a pulling vehicle and a pair of opposed side longitudinal bar means connected with and extending rearwardly from said front transverse bar means and defining with the latter a space for accommodating a load, at least a pair of wheels being operatively connected with said pair of opposed side bar means to support said lower frame means during travel thereof, upper frame means also of substantially U-shaped configuration situated at an elevation higher than said lower frame means and being of substantially the same size and configuration as said lower frame means, said upper frame means also having a front transverse bar means and a pair of opposed side bar means connected with said front transverse bar means of said upper frame means and extending rearwardly therefrom for also defining with said lower frame means a space for accommodating a load, connecting means extending between and interconnected with said lower frame means and said upper frame means for connecting said upper frame means to said lower frame means for movement with respect thereto downwardly to a lower load-receiving position and upwardly to an upper load-transporting position, said connecting means also providing for said upper frame means a transverse pivot axis about which said upper frame means turns when carrying out a load-depositing operation, a pair of expandable and contractable fluid-pressure means respectively situated on opposite sides of and beyond the load-accommodating space defined by said upper and lower frame means with each of said fluid-pressure means being operatively connected to a side bar means of said lower frame means and a side bar means of said upper frame means for lowering said upper frame means from said upper load-transporting position thereof down to said lower load-receiving position thereof during expansion of each fluid-pressure means and for turning said upper frame means about said pivot axis during a load-depositing operation also during expansion of each fluid-pressure means, and releasable holding means operatively connected between part of said connecting means and said lower frame means for releasably holding said pivot axis stationary during turning of said upper frame means about said pivot axis when carrying out a load-depositing operation.