Cargo handling system

Claim 2

A cargo handling system comprising: A. an activatable cargo positioning means operatively supported by a cargo carrier and adapted to be selectively activated for repositioning cargo relative to said carrier; B. a mobile cargo transport including, 1. a laterally extended frame, 2. a plurality of endless chains having substantially coplanar reaches interconnected through a multiplicity of adjacent, laterally extended flight bars, the upper surfaces thereof defining a cargo delivery surface, and 3. a plurality of sprockets coupled with said plurality of chains for selectively displacing the chains in opposed cargo advancing directions; C. means for coupling the cargo transport with the cargo positioning means whereby a delivery of cargo therebetween is accommodated; D. a selectively operable actuator coupled with the cargo transport including means for selectively driving said plurality of sprockets, whereby the cargo delivery surface selectively is displaced; E. a parallel linkage arranged in supporting relationship with said frame including, 1. a plurality of struts, each strut being extended generally downwardly from said frame and terminating in an associated supporting caster including a supporting wheel, and 2. an axially reciprocable, fluid-driven ram coupled with said linkage; and F. drive means operatively coupled with one of said casters and adapted to be activated to impart driven rotation to the included wheel for thereby displacing said cargo transport relative to said cargo positioning means.

Claim 3

a plurality of endless chains having substantially coplanar reaches interconnected through a multiplicity of adjacent, laterally extended flight bars, the upper surfaces thereof defining a cargo delivery surface, and

Claim 4

a plurality of endless chains having substantially coplanar reaches interconnected through a multiplicity of adjacent, laterally extended flight bars, the upper surfaces thereof defining a cargo delivery surface, and

Claim 5

an axially reciprocable, fluid-driven ram coupled with said linkage; and F. drive means operatively coupled with one of said casters and adapted to be activated to impart driven rotation to the included wheel for thereby displacing said cargo transport relative to said cargo positioning means.

Claim 6

an axially reciprocable, fluid-driven ram coupled with said linkage; and F. drive means operatively coupled with one of said casters and adapted to be activated to impart driven rotation to the included wheel for thereby displacing said cargo transport relative to said cargo positioning means.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1 further including means for varying the planar position of said cargo delivery surface relative to an horizontal plane, whereby the cargo delivery means and the cargo positioning means are rendered positionable into a coplanar relationship and coupling means comprising coaxially related openings formed in said frame and in said cargo carrier adapted to receive a pair of locking pins.

Claim 8

A cargo handling system for loading and unloading cargo carriers, comprising: A. cArgo positioning means supported by a cargo carrier including a first plurality of endless conveyor chains disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and having substantially coplanar runs interconnected through a plurality of adjacent, substantially coplanar flight bars extended therebetween for supporting cargo thereon, and a drive train including a first reversible hydraulic motor operatively coupled with said chains for selectively imparting reversible displacement to the chains, whereby cargo supported on said flight bars is selectively transported thereby; B. cargo transport means, operatively associated with said cargo positioning means, comprising a laterally extended, elongated frame having a plurality of supporting struts, a conveyor substantially traversing the length of the frame including a second plurality of endless conveyor chains disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and having substantially coplanar runs, said second plurality of chains being interconnected through a plurality of adjacent, parallel flight bars for receiving and supporting cargo thereon, and a second reversible hydraulic motor and drive train coupled with said plurality of endless conveyor chains for imparting reversible displacement to the chains, whereby cargo supported on said flight bars is selectively transported thereby; C. an hydraulic circuit including a driven pump operatively coupled with said first and second hydraulic motors for delivering a flow of hydraulic fluid under predetermined pressures thereto; D. a pair of vertically oriented, laterally extended gates for imparting stability to cargo supported on said flight bars; and E. coupling means for releasably coupling each gate of said pair of gates with a given plurality of endless conveyor chains, whereby each of said gates is displaced as the cargo is transported by the plurality of conveyor chains to which it is coupled.

Claim 9

A cargo handling system for loading and unloading cargo carriers, comprising: A. cArgo positioning means supported by a cargo carrier including a first plurality of endless conveyor chains disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and having substantially coplanar runs interconnected through a plurality of adjacent, substantially coplanar flight bars extended therebetween for supporting cargo thereon, and a drive train including a first reversible hydraulic motor operatively coupled with said chains for selectively imparting reversible displacement to the chains, whereby cargo supported on said flight bars is selectively transported thereby; B. cargo transport means, operatively associated with said cargo positioning means, comprising a laterally extended, elongated frame having a plurality of supporting struts, a conveyor substantially traversing the length of the frame including a second plurality of endless conveyor chains disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and having substantially coplanar runs, said second plurality of chains being interconnected through a plurality of adjacent, parallel flight bars for receiving and supporting cargo thereon, and a second reversible hydraulic motor and drive train coupled with said plurality of endless conveyor chains for imparting reversible displacement to the chains, whereby cargo supported on said flight bars is selectively transported thereby; C. an hydraulic circuit including a driven pump operatively coupled with said first and second hydraulic motors for delivering a flow of hydraulic fluid under predetermined pressures thereto; D. a pair of vertically oriented, laterally extended gates for imparting stability to cargo supported on said flight bars; and E. coupling means for releasably coupling each gate of said pair of gates with a given plurality of endless conveyor chains, whereby each of said gates is displaced as the cargo is transported by the plurality of conveyor chains to which it is coupled.

Claim 10

a plurality of sprockets coupled with said plurality of chains for selectively displacing the chains in opposed cargo advancing directions; C. means for coupling the cargo transport with the cargo positioning means whereby a delivery of cargo therebetween is accommodated; D. a selectively operable actuator coupled with the cargo transport including means for selectively driving said plurality of sprockets, whereby the cargo delivery surface selectively is displaced; E. a parallel linkage arranged in supporting relationship with said frame including,

Claim 11

a plurality of sprockets coupled with said plurality of chains for selectively displacing the chains in opposed cargo advancing directions; C. means for coupling the cargo transport with the cargo positioning means whereby a delivery of cargo therebetween is accommodated; D. a selectively operable actuator coupled with the cargo transport including means for selectively driving said plurality of sprockets, whereby the cargo delivery surface selectively is displaced; E. a parallel linkage arranged in supporting relationship with said frame including,

Claim 12

The system of claim 3 wherein said coupling means includes: A. a first pair of tracks extended along opposite sides of said cargo positioning means and a second pair of tracks extended along opposite sides of said cargo transport means; B. a pair of caster-supported cars seated in each pair of said tracks; C. means for releasably uniting each gate of said pair of gates with a pair of said cars; and D. means depending from each gate for engaging selected flight bars.

Claim 13

A cargo handling system comprising: A. activatable cargo positioning means operatively supported by a given carrier including a horizontally disposed, selectively driven endless conveyor for repositioning cargo supported thereby, relative to said carrier, a vertically oriented, laterally extended gate for imparting stability to cargo supported by said endless conveyor, and coupling means for coupling said gate to said endless conveyor; B. a cargo transport including an endless conveyor having a surface for supporting cargo as the conveyor is displaced for transporting the cargo in a substantially horizontal plane and a vertically oriented, laterally extended gate for imparting stability to cargo supported by said endless conveyor, and coupling means for coupling said gate to said endless conveyor, said gates simultaneously engaging opposite ends of the load and simultaneously operating to shift the thus stabilized load; and C. bridging means interposed between the endless conveyor of the cargo positioning means and the conveyor of the cargo transport including a transversely oriented roller, whereby cargo is supported between the endless conveyor and the cargo delivery surface as it is delivered between the cargo positioning means and the cargo transport.

Claim 14

A cargo handling system comprising: A. activatable cargo positioning means operatively supported by a given carrier including a horizontally disposed, selectively driven endless conveyor for repositioning cargo supported thereby, relative to said carrier, a vertically oriented, laterally extended gate for imparting stability to cargo supported by said endless conveyor, and coupling means for coupling said gate to said endless conveyor; B. a cargo transport including an endless conveyor having a surface for supporting cargo as the conveyor is displaced for transporting the cargo in a substantially horizontal plane and a vertically oriented, laterally extended gate for imparting stability to cargo supported by said endless conveyor, and coupling means for coupling said gate to said endless conveyor, said gates simultaneously engaging opposite ends of the load and simultaneously operating to shift the thus stabilized load; and C. bridging means interposed between the endless conveyor of the cargo positioning means and the conveyor of the cargo transport including a transversely oriented roller, whereby cargo is supported between the endless conveyor and the cargo delivery surface as it is delivered between the cargo positioning means and the cargo transport.

Claim 15

The system of claim 5 further comprising means for releaseably coupling said cargo positioning means and said cargo transport into an integrated unit.

Claim 16

The system of claim 6 further comprising means for varying the position of said cargo delivery surface relative to a vertical pLane.

Claim 17

The system of claim 7 further comprising means for selectively varying the position of said cargo delivery surface relative to a horizontal plane.