Loading device for trucks

Claim 1

In a loading device for automotive trucks or trailers, the combination of a vehicle body having a floor, a plurality of loading systems on said floor, each said system including freight moving mechanism below said floor, said mechanism includes a carriage movable horizontally below said floor, said floor having an elongated slot therethrough, said carriage supporting a platform above said floor, said platform having a vertical wall therebelow extending through said floor slot for support on said carriage, and means on said platform vertically movable between operative and unoperative positions, to lift or lower an item of freight respectively to said floor and to clear said floor when said carriage transports said item of freight horizontally from one area in said vehicle body to another, said mechanism includes a control system having means for selectively moving said carriage forwardly or rearwardly, and means for selectively moving said platform upwardly or downwardly, both said means being controlled from a remotely positioned control panel, said means for said carriage travel comprises a first pair of spacedapart sprockets, means for moving said sprockets, a chain around said sprockets, said chain being connected to said carriage to travel longitudinally forward or rearward between said sprockets, said carriage comprises a chassis supported on wheels, said chassis having upstanding walls having sideward extending lugs engageable in slots in said platform vertical wall to allow relative vertical movement of said platform relative to said chassis, and said platform having a threaded socket on its underside engaged with an upward extending threaded end of a rotatable shaft, rotatably carried on said chassis.