Delivery vehicle with elevator assemblies for multi-tier storage of cargo

A delivery vehicle with multi-tier cargo storage, comprising:

• an elevator assembly for raising and lowering cargo between different storage tiers, said elevator assembly comprising:
• a lower cargo platform movable between an intermediate position and a lowered position;
• an upper cargo platform positioned above the lower cargo platform and vertically movable relative thereto, said upper cargo platform being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said raised position being higher than the intermediate position occupied by the lower cargo platform;
• a lift for raising and lowering the lower cargo platform and upper cargo platform to permit the loading and unloading of cargo;
• and
• means for limiting the vertical relative movement between the lower cargo platform and the upper cargo platform as they are raised;
• and
• support means coupled to and extending vertically alongside said elevator assembly for transferring substantially all cargo weight from the elevator assembly directly to an axle of the delivery vehicle.

A delivery vehicle with multi-tier cargo storage, comprising:

• an elevator assembly for raising and lowering cargo between different storage tiers, said elevator assembly comprising:
• a lower cargo platform movable between an intermediate position and a lowered position;
• an upper cargo plafform positioned above the lower cargo platform and vertically movable relative thereto, said upper cargo platform being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said raised position being higher than the intermediate position occupied by the lower cargo platform;
• a lift for raising and lowering the lower cargo platform and upper cargo platform to permit the loading and unloading of cargo;
• and
• means for limiting the vertical distance between the lower cargo platform and the upper cargo platform as they are raised;
• cargo access means in at least one side of the delivery vehicle to permit loading and unloading of cargo from the side of the delivery vehicle;
• and
• a truss coupled to and extending vertically alongside said elevator assembly for transferring substantially all cargo weight from the elevator assembly directly to an axle of the delivery vehicle.

A delivery vehicle with multi-tier cargo storage, comprising:

• an elevator assembly for raising and lowering cargo between different storage tiers, said elevator assembly comprising:
• a lower cargo platform movable between an intermediate position and a lowered position;
• an upper cargo platform positioned above the lower cargo platform and vertically movable relative thereto, said upper cargo platform being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said raised position being higher than the intermediate position occupied by the lower cargo platform;
• a lift for raising and lowering the lower cargo platform and upper cargo platform to permit the loading and unloading of cargo;
• and
• means for limiting the vertical distance between the lower cargo platform and the upper cargo platform as they are raised;
• cargo access means in at least one side of the delivery vehicle to permit loading and unloading of cargo from the side of the delivery vehicle;
• a truss coupled to and extending vertically alongside said elevator assembly for transferring substantially all cargo weight from the elevator assembly directly to an axle of the delivery vehicle;
• and
• stabilizing means for preventing the movement of the upper cargo platform and the lower cargo platform from side to side, said stabilizing means being formed integrally with the truss and spaced apart to permit cargo access from the side of the delivery vehicle.

A delivery vehicle with multi-tier cargo storage, comprising:

• an elevator assembly for raising and lowering cargo between different storage tiers, said elevator assembly comprising:
• a lower cargo platform movable between an intermediate position and a lowered position;
• an upper cargo platform positioned above the lower cargo platform and vertically movable relative thereto, said upper cargo platform being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, said raised position being higher than the intermediate position occupied by the lower cargo platform;
• a nut mounted to said upper cargo platform and operatively coupled to a rotating, threaded rod;
• a supporting member mounted to said lower cargo platform and suspended from said upper cargo platform for raising the lower cargo platform as the upper cargo platform is raised;
• and
• a flange atop the supporting member for engaging the upper cargo platform as the upper cargo platform is raised to a point proximate the intermediate position and limiting the vertical distance between the lower cargo platform and the upper cargo platform as they are raised;
• cargo access means in at least one side of the delivery vehicle to permit loading and unloading of cargo from the side of the delivery vehicle;
• a truss coupled to and extending vertically alongside said elevator assembly for transferring substantially all cargo weight from the elevator assembly directly to an axle of the delivery vehicle;
• and
• stabilizing means for preventing the movement of the upper cargo platform and the lower cargo platform from side to side, said stabilizing means being formed integrally with the truss and spaced apart to permit cargo access from the side of the delivery vehicle.

A method of loading and delivering cargo in a multi-tier storage delivery vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• loading a first cargo portion on a lowermost cargo platform elevated to an intermediate position;
• lowering the lowermost cargo platform with a lift;
• loading a second cargo portion on an uppermost cargo platform positioned above the lowermost cargo platform;
• unloading the first cargo portion from the lowermost cargo platform;
• lowering the uppermost cargo platform relatively closer to the lowermost cargo platform with the lift;
• and
• unloading the second cargo portion from the uppermost cargo platform.

A method of loading and delivering cargo in a multi-tier storage delivery vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• loading a first cargo portion through the rear of the delivery vehicle and onto a lowermost cargo platform elevated to an intermediate position;
• lowering the lowermost cargo platform with a lift;
• loading a second cargo portion through the rear of the delivery vehicle and onto an uppermost cargo platform positioned above the lowermost cargo platform;
• unloading the first cargo portion from the lowermost cargo platform through a side of the delivery vehicle;
• lowering the uppermost cargo platform relatively closer to the lowermost cargo platform with the lift;
• and
• unloading the second cargo portion from the uppermost cargo platform through a side of the delivery vehicle.

A method of loading and delivering cargo in a multi-tier storage delivery vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• loading a first cargo portion through a side of the delivery vehicle and onto an uppermost cargo platform positioned above a lowermost cargo platform and vertically movable relative thereto;
• raising the uppermost cargo platform with a lift;
• loading a second cargo portion through a side of the delivery vehicle and onto the lowermost cargo platform;
• unloading the first cargo portion from the uppermost cargo platform through the rear of the delivery vehicle;
• raising the lowermost cargo platform with the lift;
• and
• unloading the second cargo portion from the lowermost cargo platform through the rear of the delivery vehicle.