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US 6,071,062 AGranted
Apparatus for lifting, handling, and transporting a container
AssigneePODS, Inc.
InventorsPeter S. Warhurst, William R. Courtney, David Revelia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulically actuated mobile carrier frame wraps around a storage container of standard size and lifts the container from the ground onto a transport vehicle. The carrier frame subsequently returns the container to the ground. The carrier frame stays with the vehicle. The carrier frame can be expanded transversely to clear the vehicle for loading and unloading, then contracted into notches in the vehicle platform to be releasably locked to the vehicle for over the road transport.
Claims39
An apparatus for lifting, handling and transporting a container having right and left sides and front and rear ends, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier frame including right and left longitudinal elements juxtaposed with the right and left sides, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each longitudinal element extending between opposite first and second ends, the carrier frame having front and rear transverse elements juxtaposed with the front and rear ends, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each transverse element extending between opposite right and left ends, the left ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the left longitudinal element, and the right ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the right longitudinal element, the carrier frame further including a plurality of generally vertical upright members, each upright member extending between opposite upper and lower ends;
- bearing means attached to each upright member lower end, for ground bearing and relative movement of the upright members with the ground;
- elevating means for elevating and lowering the carrier frame with respect to the ground;
- positioning means connected to the carrier frame for moving and positioning the carrier frame with respect to the container, and for moving and positioning the carrier frame and container together with respect to a transport vehicle having a platform when the container is to be loaded on to and off from said transport vehicle;
- supporting means connected to the carrier frame and to the container for supporting the container to the frame;
- and
- means for providing hydraulic power to actuators,
- wherein the carrier frame is capable of being elevated to be moved over the container and is capable of being lowered around the container for attaching the carrier frame to the container for subsequent lifting, handling and transporting of the container.
5 more elements
An apparatus for lifting, handling and transporting a container having right and left sides and front and rear ends, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier frame including right and left longitudinal elements juxtaposed with the right and left sides, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each longitudinal element extending between opposite first and second ends, the carrier frame having front and rear transverse elements juxtaposed with the front and rear ends, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each transverse element extending between opposite right and left ends, the left ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the left longitudinal element, and the right ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the right longitudinal element, the carrier frame further including four generally vertical upright members, each upright member extending between opposite upper and lower ends;
- wheels, attached to each upright member lower end, for ground bearing and relative movement of the upright members with the ground;
- elevating means for elevating and lowering the frame with respect to the ground;
- a winch and cable connected to the carrier frame for moving and positioning the carrier frame with respect to the container, and for moving and positioning the carrier frame and container together with respect to the transport vehicle having a platform when the container is to be loaded on to and off from said transport vehicle;
- supporting means connected to the frame and to the container for supporting the container by the frame;
- and
- means for providing hydraulic power to actuators,
- wherein the carrier frame is capable of being elevated to be moved over the container and is capable of being lowered around the container for attaching the carrier frame to the container for subsequent lifting, handling and transporting of the container.
5 more elements
A method of lifting, handling and transporting a container on to and off from a transport vehicle having a cargo carrying platform, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a carrier frame around the container on the transport vehicle platform;
- releasably attaching the carrier frame to the container;
- extending rear and front upright members downward into a ground-engaging position;
- elevating the carrier frame with hydraulic means and container above the transport vehicle platform;
- expanding the carrier frame with hydraulic means to clear the sides of the transport vehicle platform;
- driving the transport vehicle out from under the carrier frame and container;
- lowering the carrier frame and container until the container rests upon the ground;
- releasing the carrier frame attachment from the container;
- activating a steering and mobility means for providing driving power and directional control to wheels at the lower end of the rear upright members;
- directing the movement of the carrier frame away from the container;
- elevating the carrier frame to an elevation higher than that of the transport vehicle platform;
- moving and positioning the carrier frame over the transport vehicle platform;
- deactivating the steering and mobility means;
- retracting the carrier frame with hydraulic means to align the upright members in close proximity to the transport vehicle platform;
- lowering the carrier frame to rest upon the transport vehicle platform;
- retracting the upright members upward away from the ground-engaging position so that the transport vehicle is able to transport the carrier frame;
- extending the upright members downward into a ground-engaging position;
- elevating the carrier frame with hydraulic means above the transport vehicle platform;
- expanding the carrier frame with hydraulic means to clear the sides of the transport vehicle platform;
- activating a steering and mobility means for providing driving power and directional control to wheels at the lower end of the rear upright members;
- directing the movement of the carrier frame away from the transport vehicle platform;
- moving and positioning the carrier frame around the container;
- lowering the carrier frame adjacent to the ground;
- releasably attaching the carrier frame to the container;
- elevating the carrier frame and container to an elevation higher than that of the transport vehicle platform;
- moving and positioning the carrier frame and container over the transport vehicle platform;
- deactivating the steering and mobility means;
- retracting the carrier frame with hydraulic means to align the upright members in close proximity to the transport vehicle platform;
- lowering the carrier frame and container to rest upon the transport vehicle platform;
- and
- retracting the upright members upward away from the ground-engaging position so that the transport vehicle is able to transport the carrier frame and container.
28 more elements
An apparatus for lifting, handling and transporting a container having right and left sides and front and rear ends, the apparatus comprising:
- a carrier frame including right and left longitudinal elements juxtaposed with the right and left sides, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each longitudinal element extending between opposite first and second ends, the carrier frame having front and rear transverse elements juxtaposed with the front and rear ends, respectively, of the container to be handled and transported, each transverse element extending between opposite right and left ends, the left ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the left longitudinal element, and the right ends of the front and rear elements being adjacent to the first and second ends, respectively, of the right longitudinal element, the carrier frame further including a plurality of generally vertical upright members, each upright member extending between opposite upper and lower ends;
- the front and rear transverse elements being selectively adjustable in length to allow expansion of the carrier frame to clear a transport vehicle and the container for positioning and contraction of the carrier frame into close juxtaposition with the transport vehicle and the container;
- bearing means attached to each upright member lower end, for ground bearing and relative movement of the upright members with the ground;
- elevating means for elevating and lowering the carrier frame with respect to the ground;
- positioning means connected to the carrier frame for moving and positioning the carrier frame with respect to the container, and for moving and positioning the carrier frame and container together with respect to the transport vehicle having a platform when the container is to be loaded on to and off from said transport vehicle;
- supporting means connected to the carrier frame and to the container for supporting the container to the frame;
- and
- means for providing hydraulic power to actuators,
- wherein the carrier frame is capable of being elevated to be moved over the container and is capable of being lowered around the container for attaching the carrier frame to the container for subsequent lifting, handling and transporting of the container.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.