Cargo shuttle

Apparatus for transporting cargo across a roller equipped, load-bearing surface comprising:

• track means extending along the path of travel of said cargo, said track means including a pair of substantially U-shaped tracks opening toward each other and canted downwardly;
• a shuttle carriage including a frame and having wheels mounted upon said frame positioned for movement within said tracks;
• a rocker yoke;
• first and second cargo-engaging pawls;
• first means for mounting said first pawl on said rocker yoke;
• second means for mounting said second pawl on said rocker yoke;
• third means for mounting said rocker yoke on said frame for swinging movement of said rocker yoke between a first position in which said first pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said second pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame and a second position in which said second pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said first pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame;
• fourth means associated with said rocker yoke and pawls and remotely operable to extend and retract said pawls at any location along said tracks;
• fifth means for biasing said rocker yoke into said first position and said second position, said fifth means including an overcenter spring-actuated toggle linkage between said frame and said rocker yoke;
• and
• draw cable means associated with said shuttle carriage for moving said carriage along said tracks.

A shuttle carriage for use in transporting cargo across a roller equipped, load-bearing surface, said shuttle carriage comprising:

• a frame having a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon;
• a rocker yoke;
• first and second cargo-engaging pawls;
• first means for mounting said first pawl on said rocker yoke for swinging movement of said first pawl into and out of an erect position;
• second means for mounting said second pawl on said rocker yoke for swinging movement of said second pawl into and out of an erect position;
• third means for mounting said rocker yoke on said frame for swinging movement of said rocker yoke between a first position in which said first pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said second pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame and a second position in which said second pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said first pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame;
• fourth means associated with said rocker yoke and pawls and remotely operable to extend and retract said pawls at any location along the path of travel of said cargo;
• first biasing means for urging said first pawl toward its erect position;
• second biasing means for urging said second pawl toward its erect position;
• and
• draw cable means associated with said shuttle carriage for moving said carriage over said load-bearing surface.

In a system for transporting cargo across a roller equipped, load-bearing surface, an improved shuttle carriage for moving said cargo, said shuttle carriage comprising:

• a frame having a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon;
• a rocker yoke;
• first and second cargo-engaging pawls;
• first means for mounting said first pawl on said rocker yoke;
• second means for mounting said second pawl on said rocker yoke;
• third means for mounting said rocker yoke on said frame for swinging movement of said rocker yoke between a first position in which said first pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said second pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame and a second position in which said second pawl is extended from said frame in a cargo-engaging position and said first pawl is retracted in a nested position substantially within said frame;
• fourth means associated with said rocker yoke and pawls and remotely operable to extend and retract said pawls at any location along the path of travel of said cargo;
• and
• biasing means for biasing said rocker yoke into said first position and said second position, said biasing means including an overcenter spring-actuated toggle linkage between said frame and said rocker yoke.