Load carrying device

Claim 2

In an article carrying vehicle, the combination of a support structure defining a tunnel open at its forward end to receive articles, a lift mechanism mounted on said support structure at the forward end of the tunnel, said lift mechanism having spaced apart side members to pass an article therebetween and having forwardly extending tines inboard of said side members to lift the articles to the entrance of the tunnel, an extendable power operated loading frame mounted on said support structure, said frame having means to engage when extended an article on said tines and to draw said article between said lift member side members into said tunnel.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said loading frame is mounted for movement from a retracted position wherein the forward portion of said frame is substantially entirely within said tunnel to an extended position wherein said forward portion is outwardly of the tunnel and in the path of movement of said lift mechanism to receive an article from said lift mechanism, said means to engage an article comprising an upstanding ledge on the outermost end of said forward portion to engage the side of the article and move the article into said tunnel as said frame is retracted.

Claim 4

In a vehicle the combination of a support structure defining a tunnel open at its forward end, a loading frame mounted on said structure for movement from a retracted position substantially within said tunnel to an extended position wherein a forward portion of said frame is disposed outwardly of the open end of said tunnel, means for moving said frame between extended and retracted positions, and a lift mechanism mounted on the support structure at the forward end of the vehicle, said lift mechanism having an opening to receive an article and having tines outboard of said frame and inboard of the sides of said tunnel to support said article, said lift mechanism operable to deposit said article on said frame portion when said frame is in said extended position, movement of said frame toward said retracted position being effective to project the article into said tunnel, said loading frame and said lift mechanism movable in intermeshing relationship for transfer of said article from the lift mechanism to the loading frame.

Claim 5

In a vehicle the combination of a support structure defining a tunnel open at its forward end, a loading frame mounted on said structure for movement from a retracted position substantially within said tunnel to an extended position wherein a forward portion of said frame is disposed outwardly of the open end of said tunnel, means for moving said frame between extended and retracted positions, and a lift mechanism mounted on the support structure at the forward end of the vehicle, said lift mechanism having an opening to receive an article and having tines outboard of said frame and inboard of the sides of said tunnel to support said article, said lift mechanism operable to deposit said article on said frame portion when said frame is in said extended position, movement of said frame toward said retracted position being effective to project the article into said tunnel, said loading frame and said lift mechanism movable in intermeshing relationship for transfer of said article from the lift mechanism to the loading frame.

Claim 6

A vehicle according to claim 3 including a lowerable ramp at the rear of said tunnel for discharging articles from the vehicle and including means for selectively raising and lowering said ramp.

Claim 7

A vehicle according to claim 4 including roller means within said tunnel for receiving an article projected into the tunnel and supporting it for movement toward said lowerable ramp.

Claim 8

A vehicle according to cLaim 3 including abutment means at the rear of said tunnel, and wherein said loading frame is provided with hook means on its outermost end that is adapted to engage an article on said frame during movement of said frame toward retracted position and urge the article against other articles in said tunnel to lock all articles in abutting relation with the rearmost article abutting said abutment means in the rear of said tunnel.

Claim 9

A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said forward portion of said loading frame includes an upwardly facing support surface; and said lift mechanism includes two lift tines, and means for raising said tines with an article thereon to an elevated position above the level of said loading frame when said frame is in retracted position and for lowering said tines when said frame is in extended position to deposit the article on said support surface without interference with the loading frame as said tines move downwardly outside of said loading frame.

Claim 10

A vehicle according to claim 7 wherein said lift mechanism includes a power actuated linkage and an inverted U-shaped member connecting said linkage to said tines, the configuration of said member permitting said tines to be lowered under positive control of said linkage outside the loading frame to a level below said loading frame without interference from said frame, said frame pulling said article through said inverted U-shaped member into said tunnel on movement of the frame toward said retracted position.