Apparatus for loading and unloading of a container structure or other loads with respect to a truck body or trailer

An improved apparatus for loading and unloading of a container with respect to a vehicle body which comprises:

• a) a lower frame means positioned on a vehicle body adapted to receive a container positioned thereon, said lower frame means being pivotally movable with respect to a vehicle body to be selectively movable pivotally with respect thereto to facilitate dumping of a container while positioned on a vehicle body, said lower frame means further including an abutment end means adapted to abut a container during loading thereof upon a vehicle body;
• b) an upper frame means pivotally attached to said lower frame means;
• c) a frame pivot means attached to said lower frame means and said upper frame means to allow relative pivotal movement therebetween, said frame pivot means adapted to allow at least approximately 135 degrees of relative freedom of movement between said lower frame means and said upper frame means;
• d) a pivot securement means adapted to restrict pivotal movement of said upper frame means with respect to said lower frame means to facilitate dumping of a container while located upon a vehicle body;
• e) an upper frame roller means rotatably mounted on said upper frame means at a location spatially disposed remotely with respect to said frame pivot means, said upper frame roller means being movable along with said upper frame means pivotally with respect to said lower frame means;
• f) an extensible arm means including a hydraulic cylinder means pivotally attached adjacent one end thereof to a vehicle body and being pivotally attached adjacent the other end thereof to said upper frame means, said extensible arm means being longitudinally extensible inwardly to urge pivotal movement of said upper frame means with respect to said lower frame means as required for loading of a container with respect to a vehicle body and being longitudinally extensible outwardly to urge pivotal movement of said upper frame means with respect to said lower frame means as required for unloading of a container with respect to a vehicle body, said extensible arm means being pivotally attached to said upper frame means at a point intermediate between said frame pivot means and said upper frame roller means to facilitate control thereof, said upper frame means being movable between a raised position ready to receive a container and a lowered position adapted to retain a container thereon;
• and
• g) a flexible cable means fixedly attached at one end thereof to said lower frame means and extending around said upper frame roller means, said flexible cable means including a steel cable member and being fixedly attached adjacent the other end thereof to a container to facilitate loading thereof with respect to a vehicle body responsive to movement of said upper frame means from said raised position to said lowered position by retracting of said extensible arm means, said flexible cable means being fixedly attached adjacent the other end thereof to a container to further facilitate unloading thereof with respect to a vehicle body responsive to movement of said upper frame means from said lowered position to said upper position by extending of said extensible arm means, the axial distance along said flexible cable means from said upper frame roller means to the point of attachment with respect to a container being variable and the axial distance along said flexible cable means from said upper frame roller means to the point of attachment to said lower frame means being variable, but with the total of these two distances maintained at a constant value by fixed attachment of said flexible cable means to said lower frame means and to a container.