Truck-mounted loader

Claim 2

In the combination of a truck and detachable drop-box container, wherein the truck includes an elongate tiltable container-carrying frame, a laterally spaced pair of frame members extending substantially the length of the frame, each including an elongate skid surface which, together with the other member''s skid surface, forms an elongate skidway for receiving and supporting the container, an elongate track disposed centrally of said frame members and extending substantially the length of the frame, a carriage mounted for movement on said track, first drive coupler means mounted on said carriage, power-operated, reversable chain drive means operatively connected to the carriage for moving it either forward or rearward on the track, said means being operable to shift the carriage from adjacent one end of the track to the other in an uninterrupted movement, a pair of shock-absorbing snubbers, each secured adjacent a different one of said frame members and disposed laterally outwardly of the frame, said snubbers each including a catch configured to engage a bottom portion of the container as the container is moved along said frame toward said carrying position, and spring means mounting the catch whereby the same is biased toward the rear of the frame, but yieldable toward the front of the frame upon engagement with said bottom portion, a pair of laterally spaced elongate skid bodies disposed along the bottom of the container, said bodies being engageable with and slidable along said skidway during movement of the container along the frame toward and away from a carrying position adjacent the forward end of the frame, second drive coupler means mounted on the container and drivingly engageable with said first drive coupler means, and means mounted on the container for engaging said snubbers as the container is moved forward along said frame toward said carrying position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1, wherein said first drive coupler means comprises a forward opening hook, and said second drive coupler means comprises means engageable by said hook to couple together said carriage and container for forward movement of the container along said frame toward said carrying position.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1, wherein said first drive coupling means comprises a rigidly mounted push member, and said second drive coupling means comprises a substantially planar surface engageable by said member to couple together said carriage and container for rearward movement of the container along the frame away from said carrying position.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1, wherein said chain drive means comprises a pair of parallel, positively interconnected multi-stage reduction drive trains, each powered by a different drive motor.

Claim 6

In a truck adapted for picking up, carrying, and setting off a drop-box container, where the container has a laterally spaced pair of elongate runners disposed along its bottom surface, an exposed, substantially horizontal coupling bar disposed adjacent the front of the container, extending transversly of the container''s longitudinal axis, and a horizontally disposed snubbing post for each side of the container mounted on the container and projecting laterally outwardly thereof, the combination comprising an elongate tiltable container-carrying frame pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of the truck''s chassis and including a laterally spaced pair of frame members extending substantially the length of the frame and forming an elongate skidway for receiving the container''s runners and supporting the same for slidable movement thereon toward and away from a carrying position on the frame during picking up and setting off of the container, a beam attached to the frame substantially parallel to and midway between said frame members, and extending substantially the length of the frame, a carriage mounted on said beam for movement therealong, power-operated chain drive means operatively connected to the carriage for moving it back and forth along the beam, an upstanding rib rigidly secured to the carriage and extending in a substantially vertically plane parallel to said beam, said rib including an integral forwardly opening hook portion configured to engage the container''s coupling bar to pick up and pull the container along the skidway toward said carrying position, a horizontally disposed push member secured to and extending outwardly from either side of said rib, the rear margin of said member extending in a plane which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said beam, said push member being adapted to engage the front end of said container and to push the container away from said carrying position and off of the frame, and a pair of snubbers, each one secured adjacent a different one of said frame members and disposed laterally outward of the frame, said snubbers each including a catch configured to engage a snubbing post as a container is moved into said carrying position, and spring means acting on each catch whereby the catch is spring biased toward the rear of the frame and is yieldable toward the front of the frame.

Claim 7

In a truck adapted for picking up, carrying, and setting off a drop-box container, where the container has a laterally spaced pair of elongate runners disposed along its bottom surface, an exposed, substantially horizontal coupling bar disposed adjacent the front of the container, extending transversly of the container''s longitudinal axis, and a horizontally disposed snubbing post for each side of the container mounted on the container and projecting laterally outwardly thereof, the combination comprising an elongate tiltable container-carrying frame pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of the truck''s chassis and including a laterally spaced pair of frame members extending substantially the length of the frame and forming an elongate skidway for receiving the container''s runners and supporting the same for slidable movement thereon toward and away from a carrying position on the frame during picking up and setting off of the container, a beam attached to the frame substantially parallel to and midway between said frame members, and extending substantially the length of the frame, a carriage mounted on said beam for movement therealong, power-operated chain drive means operatively connected to the carriage for moving it back and forth along the beam, an upstanding rib rigidly secured to the carriage and extending in a substantially vertically plane parallel to said beam, said rib including an integral forwardly opening hook portion configured to engage the container''s coupling bar to pick up and pull the container along the skidway toward said carrying position, a horizontally disposed push member secured to and extending outwardly from either side of said rib, the rear margin of said member extending in a plane which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said beam, said push member being adapted to engage the front end of said container and to push the container away from said carrying position and off of the frame, and a pair of snubbers, each one secured adjacent a different one of said frame members and disposed laterally outward of the frame, said snubbers each including a catch configured to engage a snubbing post as a container is moved into said carrying position, and spring means acting on each catch whereby the catch is spring biased toward the rear of the frame and is yieldable toward the front of the frame.

Claim 8

The truck of claim 5, wherein said chain drive means comprises a pair of parallel positively interconnected multi-stage reduction drive trains, each powered by a different drive motor.

Claim 9

In the combination of a truck and detachable drop-box container therefor, wherein the truck includes a tiltable container-carrying frame, means defining an elongate skidway on the frame for receiving and supporting the container thereon, skid means on the container engageable with said skidway for sliding therealong with movement of the container toward and away from a carrying position adjacent the forward end of the frame during on- and off-loading, respectively, of the container, first coupler means on the container, second coupler means on the truck, mounted for reciprocal movement along said frame and engageable with said first coupler means, reversible power-operated positive drive means on the truck operatively connected to said second coupler means for shifting the same under positive drive along the frame from adjacent one end of said skidway to the other, said drive means being operable to shift said second coupler means substantially the length of said skidway in a continuous motion, whereby a container having its coupler means engaged by said second coupler means is moved in a steady, uninterrupted manner along the skidway during on- or off-loading, and snubbing means separate from said drive means, mounted on said frame adjacent the skidway for yieldably engaging the container as such is moved into said carrying position by said drive means with said first and second coupler means drivingly engaged, said snubbing means includes a catch means configured to engage a bottom portion of the container as the container is moved along said frame towards said carrying position, and spring means mounting the catch whereby the same is biased towards the rear of the frame, but yieldable towards the front of the frame upon engagement with said bottom portion.

Claim 10

In the combination of a truck and detachable drop-box container therefor, wherein the truck includes a tiltable container-carrying frame, means defining an elongate skidway on the frame for receiving and supporting the container thereon, skid means on the container engageable with said skidway for sliding therealong with movement of the container toward and away from a carrying position adjacent the forward end of the frame during on- and off-loading, respectively, of the container, first coupler means on the container, second coupler means on the truck, mounted for reciprocal movement along said frame and engageable with said first coupler means, reversible power-operated positive drive means on the truck operatively connected to said second coupler means for shifting the same under positive drive along the frame from adjacent one end of said skidway to the other, said drive means being operable to shift said second coupler means substantially the length of said skidway in a continuous motion, whereby a container having its coupler means engaged by said second coupler means is moved in a steady, uninterrupted manner along the skidway during on- or off-loading, and snubbing means separate from said drive means, mounted on said frame adjacent the skidway for yieldably engaging the container as such is moved into said carrying position by said drive means with said first and second coupler means drivingly engaged, said snubbing means includes a catch means configured to engage a bottom portion of the container as the container is moved along said frame towards said carrying position, and spring means mounting the catch whereby the same is biased towards the rear of the frame, but yieldable towards the front of the frame upon engagement with said bottom portion.