Load transfer device
AssigneeValcomatic Systems, Inc.
InventorGeorge Thornton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load transfer device for loading or unloading an entire storage compartment, such as the interior of a freight hauling trailer, in one cycle includes a long vertically flexible load support and transfer member that is as long and as wide as the storage compartment and which has a chisel-like leading edge to slip under freight articles resting on a floor, the transfer member being empowered by a motor mounted on it at the rear end to move longitudinally in and out of the storage compartment.
Claims39
In a mobile load transfer device for rapidly moving a large load of articles such as a truckload of freight from one place to another comprising a long, thin vertically flexible load transfer member having mobile means to engage and roll on a floor and upper anti-friction means to engage and support a load of freight elements, said transfer member including a front end section tapered down to a thin leading edge adapted to slip under the freight element that is resting on a floor, said transfer member further including at least one support section extending outwardly thereof and power means mounted on and supported by said support section and movable with said transfer member, said power means further being mounted and operable to provide power for enabling said transfer member to be driven across a floor on said mobile means at a slow, steady, smooth, continuous rate of motion, said mounting of said power means on said outwardly extending support section further enabling said transfer member to be slipped underneath a load on a floor or from underneath a load for at least a major part of the length of the member.
A load transfer device for rapidly moving a large load of freight such as a truckload of freight from one place to another comprising an elongated truck trailer length longitudinally movable load support and transfer member having a series of hinged together vertically thin sections including a section at one end tapered down to a narrow leading edge adapted to slip under an article to be transferred that is resting on a floor, said transfer member having a top area including a low friction deck means to engage and support a load of articles to be transferred, said transfer member having lower transverse roller means to engage a floor and support the transfer member for longitudinal movement thereon, motor means for providing power to move the transfer member mounted on the other end section of the member and movable with the member, said motor means further being mounted on a support section extending outwardly of said transfer member to thereby enable said transfer member to be driven across a floor and to be slipped underneath said article to be transferred or from underneath said article for substantially the full length of the transfer member, a transversely extending rotary shaft means operably connected to and operated by said motor means at a selected torque and speed, said shaft means being mounted on said transfer member, and drive means for longitudinally moving said transfer member from said one place to another and back operably connected to and operated by said rotary shaft means, said drive means including a sprocket means centrally located on said rotary shaft means and drive chain means operably connected to and operated by said sprocket means, said drive chain means including a vertically flexible longitudinally stationary chain means extending substantially along the midline of and below the transfer member and along its path of movement, said chain means including a chain in intermeshed engagement with the sprocket means whereby rotation of the shaft means and sprocket means produces longitudinal movement of the sprocket means and shaft means along the length of the chain means and therefore movement of the transfer member.
In a mobile load transfer devie for rapidly moving a large load of articles such as a truckload of freight from one place to another, an elongated, longitudinally movable, load support and transfer member having a top area, the entire top area of the member forming a deck means to engage and support a load of articless to be transferred, said entire top area of the member defining the horizontal cross section and base of a cubic envelope adapted to contain articles to be transferred, said transfer member including longitudinally extending outer sidebar means on opposite longitudinal sides thereof, and bracket means on opposite sides of the member rigid with the sidebar means extending transversely as cantilevers outwardly away from said envelope, power means outside said envelope on opposite sides of the member mounted on said bracket means to be carried by the member and to supply power for longitudinally moving said transfer member, the ends of said transfer member and said cubic envelope being open whereby said member is adapted for end loading of articles onto said deck means.
A load transfer device for rapidly moving a large load of articles such as a truckload of freight from one place to another, comprising an elongated longitudinally movable load support and transfer member having an upper deck means to engage and support a load of articles to be transferred and a lower transverse roller means to engage a floor and support the transfer member for longitudinal movement thereon, said transfer member having longitudinally extending outer sidebar means, motor means for providing power to move the member and movable with it mounted on and supported by said sidebar means in a cantilever manner and located transversely outwardly of said upper deck means, a transversely extending rotary shaft means operably connected to and operated by said motor means at a selected torque and speed, said shaft means being mounted on said transfer member and located substantially entirely below said deck means, and drive means for longitudinally moving said member operably connected to and operated by said shaft means and located at least in part on said transfer member below said deck means.
A load transfer device for rapidly moving a large load of articles such as a truckload of freight from one place to another, comprising an elongated longitudinally movable load support and transfer member having an upper deck means to engage and support a load of articles to be transferred and a lower transverse roller means to engage a floor and support the transfer member for longitudinal movement thereon, said transfer member having longitudinally extending outer sidebar means, motor means for providing power to move the member and movable with it mounted on and supported by said sidebar means in a cantilever manner and located transversely outwardly of said upper deck means, a transversely extending rotary shaft means operably connected to and operated by said motor means at a selected torque and speed, said shaft means being mounted on said transfer member and located substantially entirely below said deck means, drive means for longitudinally moving said member operably connected to and operated by said shaft means and located at least in part on said transfer member below said deck means, said transfer member comprising a series of hinged together vertically thin rigid sections and having an end section tapered down to a chisel-like leading edge adapted to slip under an article to be transferred that is resting on a floor, said deck means comprising low friction means to engage and support articles to be transferred, said motor means operating said shaft means at a slow, smooth, steady, and continuouos torque and speed to drive said transfer member longitudinally in either direction whereby substantially the full length of the transfer member is capable of slipping underneath a load substantially as long as the transfer member and is capable of being slipped from underneath such load.
A load transfer device for rapidly moving a large load of articles such as a truck load of freight from one place to another comprising an elongated longitudinally movable vertically flexible load support and transfer member having an upper deck means to engage and support a load of articles to be transferred and a lower transverse roller means to engage a floor and support the transfer member for longitudinal movement thereon, said transfer member having longitudinally extending outer sidebar means, a platform means extending between and supported on said sidebar means, motor means for providing power to move the transfer member mounted on the platform means and movable with the transfer member, a transversely extending rotary shaft means operably connected to and operated by said motor means at a selected torque and speed, said shaft means being mounted on said sidebar means and having outer end portions extending outwardly at each end beyond the adjacent sidebar means, and drive means for longitudinally moving said transfer member operably connected to said outer end portions and operated by said shaft means, said drive means including sprockets mounted on said end portions of the shaft means and vertically flexible longitudinally stationary chain means located on each side of said member and below said sprockets, each chain means including a chain in intermeshed engagement with the adjacent sprocket means whereby rotation of the shaft means and sprocket means produces longitudinal movement of the sprocket means and shaft means along the length of the chain means and therefore movement of said load transfer member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.