US 4,306,830 A · Cargo handling method and apparatus with retractable friction drive

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for transferring cargo between an unpowered roller bed and a powered roller bed by a self-propelled, mobile, steerable vehicle having a powered roller bed and a retractable friction drive on one end thereof. When transferring a cargo loaded pallet between the two powered roller beds, the friction drive retracts within one end of the vehicle chassis, and said end of the vehicle is moved into abutting engagement with the powered roller bed. When transferring a pallet between the vehicle's driven roller bed and an unpowered bed of interconnected rollers, the friction drive is extended to frictionally engage and drive the unpowered rollers in either direction. The specification also discloses an improved vehicle, per se, having a powered roller bed and a retractable, selectively operable friction drive for providing power to interconnected rollers of a roller bed.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a steerable self-propelled mobile vehicle having a chassis and a powered bed of rollers thereon, and vehicle supported power means for propelling said vehicle and said rollers;

and improvement which comprises a retractable drive wheel rotatably supported near one end of said chassis, means for selectively moving the drive wheel between a retracted position within said chassis and an extended position outwardly of said one end of said chassis, and means for rotating said drive wheel when in its extended position, said vehicle being adapted to be driven into a plurality of stations each having an interconnected bed of unpowered rollers thereon, said vehicle supported power means operatively connected to said drive wheel moving means and said wheel rotating means for driving each of said unpowered bed of rollers when said drive wheel is in its extended position in driving engagement with the associated unpowered bed of rollers.

In a steerable self-propelled mobile vehicle having a chassis and a powered bed of rollers thereon;

the improvement which comprises a retractable friction drive wheel rotatably supported near one end of said chassis, means for selectively moving the drive wheel between a retracted position within said chassis and an extended position outwardly of said one end of said chassis, means for driving said friction wheel when in its extended position, first mounting means supported on said chassis for pivotal movement about a first axis adjacent said one end, a shaft supporting said friction wheel and journaled on said first mounting means above said first axis, second mounting means supported on said chassis for pivotal movement about a second axis, said wheel drive means secured to said second mounting means above said second axis and including a driven output shaft, a chain drive connecting said shafts in driving engagement, and an adjustable link pivotally interconnecting said first and second mounting means for tensioning said chain drive and for defining a parallelogram linkage between said shafts and said axes during movement between said extended and retracted positions.

In a cargo handling system, a steerable self-propelled mobile vehicle having a chassis rotatably supporting a driven roller bed having an article supporting surface for selectively moving articles between the driven roller bed and either the beds of drivingly interconnected rollers of selected ones of a plurality of unpowered first article handling mechanisms or an article supporting bed of powered rollers of a second article handling mechanism when the mobile vehicle is selectively driven in article transfer positions relative to said selected first and said second article handling mechanisms, said vehicle including power means for propelling said vehicle and said rollers;

the improvement which comprises a friction drive wheel;
reversible motor means connected to said power means and said drive wheel for driving said friction wheel in selective directions;
means for supporting said friction drive wheel and said motor means on said vehicle for movement between an extended position wherein said friction drive wheel is disposed forwardly of one end of said chassis in driving engagement with one of the unpowered rollers of the associated unpowered bed of rollers of said first article handling mechanism for driving said unpowered rollers for transferring articles between the bed of said vehicle and said first article handling mechanism, and a retracted position disposed within said chassis and below said article supporting surface for permitting unobstructed transfer of articles between the bed of said vehicle and the driven rollers of said second article handling mechanism;
and second motor means operatively connected to said power means for selectively moving said friction wheel between said two positions.

1 more element

In a cargo handling system, a steerable self-propelled mobile vehicle having a chassis rotatably supporting a driven roller bed for selectively moving articles between the driven roller bed and either a bed of drivingly interconnected rollers of an unpowered first article handling mechanism or an article supporting bed of powered rollers of a second article handling mechanism when the mobile vehicle is selectively driven in transfer positions relative to said first and second article handling mechanisms;

the improvement which comprises means defining a parallelogram linkage pivotally mounted on said chassis, first and second parallel upstanding arm means included in said parallelogram linkage, a friction drive wheel rotatably supported by said first arm means, selectively operable reversible motor means connected to said second arm means and having an output shaft, means connecting said output shaft in driving engagement with said friction drive wheel, and selectively operable power means connected to one of said arm means for pivoting said friction drive wheel between a position confined entirely within said chassis and below the article supporting surface of said driven roller bed and a position extending outwardly from one end of said chassis for frictionally engaging and driving the unpowered rollers of the first article handling mechanism when said first mechanism is in transfer position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,787 words

Summary865 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a mobile cargo handling system which includes a vehicle having a driven roller bed, and more particularly relates to such a vehicle provided with a friction drive which is selectively movable between a position in driving engagement with an unpowered bed of rollers for transferring cargo onto or off of said unpowered bed, and a retracted position disposed within the chassis of the vehicle when the vehicle is in position to transfer cargo onto or off of an independently driven bed of rollers.

#2. Description of Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective of a transporter having the retractable friction drive thereon, said drive being illustrated in its extended position.

#FIG. 2 is an operational view illustrating the transporter of FIG. 1 in position to transfer pallets onto or off of an unpowered roller bed of a terminal storage rack with the friction drive extended to engage and drive the unpowered rollers.

#FIG. 3 is an operational view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the friction drive of the transporter in position to drive pallets onto or off of the unpowered roller bed of a dolly, the tongue of the dolly being raised to set its brakes.

Detailed description3,521 words

#The cargo handling method and apparatus of the present invention is preferably used for transporting cargo or articles such as pallets P between an aircraft A (FIG. 4) and the cargo terminal CT (FIG. 2) of an airport.

#The cargo handling system used in performing the method comprises a well known cargo loader 20 (FIG. 4); one or more terminal storage racks 21 (FIG. 2) each having a drivingly interconnected roller bed 22 which need not be powered; one or more dollies 24 (FIGS. 3 and 13) each having a drivingly interconnected, unpowered roller bed 26; and a self-propelled mobile vehicle hereinafter referred to as a transporter 28 (FIG. 1) provided with a driven roller bed 30 and a retractable friction drive 32.

#The cargo loader 20 (FIG. 4) is well known in the art and is a mobile vehicle that is driven into load transfer position adjacent the cargo opening of the aircraft A. The cargo loader 20 does not carry cargo when moving into or away from its cargo transfer position. When in the cargo transfer position, the chassis 34 of the loader is locked in fixed horizontal position by brakes and/or loader supporting jacks (not shown) until the unloading and/or loading operations have been completed. The loader 20 includes a platform 36 having a powered bed 38 of rollers 40 that are selectively driven in clockwise or counterclockwise direction by power originating from the loader. The platform 36 is moved between a lowered pallet receiving position, and an elevated position with the roller bed 38 being in horizontal alignment with driven rollers 42 defining a cargo supporting surface within the aircraft A. The illustrated loader 20 also includes a bridge 44 pivotally connected between the aircraft cargo floor and the platform 36. The bridge 44 is provided with rotatable pallet supporting means such as ball units (not shown) along with pallet driving means such as endless belts for selectively driving the pallets into or out of the aircraft. The illustrated cargo loader 20 is more fully described in assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,127 which issued to Guyaux on May 30, 1972 and is incorporated by reference herein.

Facts

Application

06/082,186Filed 5 Oct 1979

Granted

22 Dec 1981

Term ended

5 Oct 1999

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

B65G 67/02
Loading or unloading vehicles: loading or unloading land vehicles
B60P 1/52
Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading: using rollers in the…
B65G
Transport or storage devices
B60P
Vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry, or to

Description4,787 words

Summary865 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#2. Description of Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective of a transporter having the retractable friction drive thereon, said drive being illustrated in its extended position.

Detailed description3,521 words

Cargo handling method and apparatus with retractable friction drive

Life of this patent

Cargo handling method and apparatus with retractable friction drive

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description4,787 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,787 words