Container handling vehicle

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising a generally U-shaped frame formed by a longitudinally extending body and laterally extending arms mounted adjacent each end of the body, lift mast means mounted on each arm, and means mounted on each lift mast means for holding cargo containers, said lift mast means comprising a lift mast having carriage means mounted thereon and power and control means for raising and lowering said lift mast, said means for holding a cargo container comprising bolster means mounted on each of said carriage means and hook means mounted on said bolster means, said hook means engaging end facing holes of standard container corner castings for lifting said containers, said bolster means comprising at least one bolster in the form of a member mounted on said carriage means and the hook means comprise a pair of retractable hooks movably mounted on each bolster, and power means to extend and retract said hooks and control means to actuate said power means whereby said hook means may alternatively engage or disengage a cargo container, said power means to extend and retract said hooks comprising a jack for each hook, said jack having an actuation rod pivotally connected to said hook by linkage means, which linkage means is capable of locking said hook in the extended position, said linkage means comprise a first and a second link, said first link having one end pivotally connected to said rod, said second link having an end pivotally connected to said hook and an opposite end pivotally connected to said rod.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the number of bolsters is two and each bolster comprises a transversely extending member in spaced, parallel relation to the other bolster and having one of said hooks mounted on said member adjacent each end.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the lift masts are telescoping masts capable of being extended and retracted and are of a length which is no greater than the vehicle height when retracted and when fully extended are of a length such that containers may be stacked, one on top of the other.

Claim 5

A vehicle comprising a generally U-shaped frame formed by a longitudinally extending body and laterally extending arms mounted adjacent each end of the body so as to define an open top and an open side of the vehicle, vertically movable carriages mounted on vertically telescoping lift masts which are mounted on the interiors of each arm in spaced, parallel relation, one to another said telescoping lift masts being of a length in their fully retracted condition which is approximately no greater than the vehicle height and being of a fully extended length so as to be able to stack standard cargo containers at least two high, said telescoping lift masts being mounted so as to be extendible through the open top of the vehicle, bolsters in the form of generally horizontally extending members mounted on the carriages and movable therewith, hook means adapted for holding a cargo container mounted on the bolsters, power and control means for actuating the lift masts, a plurality of wheels supporting said frame means for fully pivoting each wheel about a vertical axis therethrough, power means also mounted on said frame and connected with at least two wheels for propelling said vehicle whereby said vehicle may be driven longitudinally to a point where the open side of the vehicle is laterally adjacent a cargo container load and, upon pivoting the wheels at a right angle to the direction of travel, and may be driven in a transverse direction until the vehicle encompasses the cargo container load whereupon the hook means may be actuated to hold the cargo container load and the power and control means may be actuated to raise the carriages and thereby the cargo container load for subsequent transfer to another location.

Claim 6

A vehicle comprising a generally U-shaped frame formed by a longitudinally extending body and laterally extending arms mounted adjacent each end of the body so as to define an open top and an open side of the vehicle, vertically movable carriages mounted on vertically telescoping lift masts which are mounted on the interiors of each arm in spaced, parallel relation, one to another said telescoping lift masts being of a length in their fully retracted condition which is approximately no greater than the vehicle height and being of a fully extended length so as to be able to stack standard cargo containers at least two high, said telescoping lift masts being mounted so as to be extendible through the open top of the vehicle, bolsters in the form of generally horizontally extending members mounted on the carriages and movable therewith, hook means adapted for holding a cargo container mounted on the bolsters, power and control means for actuating the lift masts, a plurality of wheels supporting said frame means for fully pivoting each wheel about a vertical axis therethrough, power means also mounted on said frame and connected with at least two wheels for propelling said vehicle whereby said vehicle may be driven longitudinally to a point where the open side of the vehicle is laterally adjacent a cargo container load and, upon pivoting the wheels at a right angle to the direction of travel, and may be driven in a transverse direction until the vehicle encompasses the cargo container load whereupon the hook means may be actuated to hold the cargo container load and the power and control means may be actuated to raise the carriages and thereby the cargo container load for subsequent transfer to another location.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein the hook means are a pair of hooks mounted on each bolster and power means to extend and retract said hooks and control means to actuate said power means.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 5 wherein the power means to extend and retract said hooks comprise jacks having actuation rods, said rods being pivotally connected to said hooks by linkage means.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 wherein the number of wheels is four, two of the wheels are mounted under the body one longitudinally behind the other, and each of the other two wheels is mounted adjacent one of the laterally extending arms.