US 4,128,180 AGranted

Apparatus for adapting material handling equipment for container unloading and method of using

OwnerDonald Melliousinventor

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Abstract

Self propelled material handling equipment items, such as backhoes, are modified to facilitate their use in unloading open top containers, such as railway gondola cars. The modifications comprise the provision of a smooth, solid, underplate at the lower extremity of the undercarriage of the material handling equipment item, and extending laterally beyond the undercarriage to provide a skid surface upon which the material handling equipment item may be supported on, and propelled across, the edges of an open top container and the contents of the container, and clamp members installed on outriggers of the material handling equipment item for engaging the sidewalls of an open top container to provide for positioning and support of the material handling equipment item on the container. The invention also includes method for conducting an unloading operation and for moving the equipment item from container to container.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Apparatus for adapting a material handling equipment item for unloading open top containers,

said material handling equipment item having a tractor portion and at least a first material working portion;
said tractor portion having an undercarriage including frame, engine, axle, transmission, and rear housing members, means attached to said axle members for propelling said material handling equipment item across a surface, said tractor portion further having moveable stabilizer arms attached thereto;
said first material working portion having first and second pivotably connected arms connected to each other at a first end of each arm, a material grasping member pivotably connected to a second end of said second arm, a second end of said first arm being pivotably connected to said tractor portion, and means for causing relative motion between said arms, between said tractor portion and said first arm, and between said second arm and said material grasping member;
said open top container having end walls, and side walls;
said apparatus for adapting comprising:
a substantially smooth continuous skidplate member attached to said undercarriage and underlying said engine, axle, transmission, and rear housing members;
and
first and second clamp members respectively attached to ends of a first and second of said stabilizer arms for engaging said side walls when said stabilizer arms are lowered.

5 more elements

A method of unloading an open top container having end walls and side walls by means of an item of self propelled material handling equipment having a tractor portion, first and second material handling members, a skidplate member underlying said tractor portion, and clamp members adapted to releasably engage said side walls comprising the steps of:

mounting said item of material handling equipment upon said open top container by the operation of the self propelling means of said item of material handling equipment;
stabilizing said item of material handling equipment upon said open top container by resting said skidplate upon material within said open top container and engaging said sidewalls with said clamp members;
removing a portion of said material from said open top container by operation of said second material handling member;
driving said item of material handling equipment to another position upon said open top container;
and
removing another portion of said material from said open top container by operation of said second material handling member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.