The present invention relates to a bridge for making a connection between a loading platform and a vehicle, wherein the bridge is hingedly connected to the platform, and wherein the height of the bridge at the side of the vehicle is variable.
Such loading bridges are generally known. Often these loading bridges are driven for their vertical movement through a hydraulic apparatus. In such devices, a cylinder is provided between a fixed point and a point ofon the bridge, so that the loading bridge can be moved in the vertical direction and can even be locked.
Also, loading bridges are known, which are operated by hand, and which rest at the movable side on the loading floor of the vehicle.
All of these known loading bridges have a number of disadvantages;. For example, manually operated loading bridges can only be applied until a certain weight, as otherwise they become too heavy and cannot be moved by human power.
Big loading bridges, which often comprise a hydraulic drive, have the disadvantage, that these hydraulic apparatusdevices are rather costly, so thatthereby making the price of such loading bridges is substantial. The same disadvantage does also existexists when the loading bridge is driven by an electric motor and a rack and pinion.
The present invention tries to provideprovides such a loading bridge, which can be provided with a driving mechanism for a relatively modest cost, despite its substantial dimensions.
This aim is achieved, in that under the bridge a flexible body has been provided of which the volume of the flexible body increases when it is filled with a gas.
As the price of such asa flexible body is modest, and the filling thereof requires only low priced equipment, of which the price is low , a rising mechanism for such a bridge is provided, which can be manufactured againstfor a modest costscost. Thus the cost of such a loading bridge areis decreased considerably. In this respect, the remark is made, that the bridge only has to be lifted in its unloaded condition; hence. Hence there is no need for substantial power, so that a relatively light and simple pneumatic apparatus is satisfactory.
Subsequently, the present invention will be elucidated with the help of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1: is a schematic perspective view of a closed loading platform comprising a loading bridge;
FIG. 2: is a schematic exploded view of a first embodiment of a loading bridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 3: is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of a loading bridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 4: is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a loading bridge according to the present invention;
FIG. 5: is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment for the controlling mechanism of the lid of the loading bridge according to the present invention; and
FIG. 6: is a perspective view partially broken away of a third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 7: is a cross-sectional view, partially as a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6.
The loading platform 1 depicted in
A vehicle to be loaded, for instance a lorry, drives with its rear side as close as possible against the loading platform 1, wherein the rear side of the lorry hits the buffer 6. Then the roll down shutter 5 is moved upwardly, and the height of the loading bridge 3 is adapted to the height of the rear side of the lorry, so that thisthe lorry can be loaded easily. It is convenient to drive into the lorry from the loading platform with for instance fork lifts.
Into theThe housing thus obtainedsupports a base 11is provided , which comprises a substantially horizontal part 12 and a part 13 extending obliquely downward to the front at an angle θ of about twenty-two degrees (See FIG. 3). Angle θ as illustrated in
At the lower side of the plate 15, a lid 21 has been hingedly connected by means of hinges 20.
In the space between the fallingfilling piece 19 and the oblique part 13 of the bottombase 11, a flexible bag or bellows 22 has been provided, which may be manufactured from for instance polyethylene. The form of this bag is such that it fits in the space thus provided. Further, this bag comprises a connection 23, which fits into a hole 24 provided in the bottom. Through this connection a gas, for instance air, can be supplied, and which can fill the bag 22, so that the bridge 15 is rasiedraised thereby.
The cross-sectional view shown in
Further in the drawing, it is shown how the vehicle lift 29 can be moved from a lorry 30until underto the space under the apparatus, so that it does not interfere the loading and unloading. To avoid wear of the bag during the movement of the loading bridge, the front wall 14 thereof is formed such, that the bag wall rolls off or on, when moving the loading bridge. The same feature has been applied with the side walls; the. The wall of the bag rolls as a membrane on or off against the side wall 19. Besides thesethis, the side walls 19 serves to protect the bag,22 in the highest position of the loading bridge.
Further, it is shown in this figure how the lid 21, which is connnectedconnected with the bridge 15 by means of a hinge 20, is provided ofwith a rod mechanism 31, that provides for the fact, that the . The lid 21 is usually in its inward position, whereas when reaching the highest position of the loading bridge the rod mechanism forces the lid upwardly, so that this is in the position shown with drawn lines in the figure, after the loading bridge may descend until the position, in which this connects on the loading floor of the lorry 30, and rests on the frame of the lorry or on the loading floor thereof. The lid 21 is kept in this position by a cam 32 welded thereon by a folded rod 33, which is connected with the loading bridge 15 by means of a hinge 34, and a rod 35 connected hingedly with the other side thereof, which. The rod comprises a thickening35 thickens 36 at its lower side. Further thisThe rod 35 extends through an apettureaperture in the front plate 14.
When reaching the upper position of the loading bridge, the thickening 36 in the rod 35 exerts a force to the folded rod 33, so that the folded rod 33moves the lid 21 to its extended position. This position is maintained by the cam 32 when movingthe loading bridge moves downwardly.
In
In this embodiment, a front skirt 52 and side skirts 53are provided extendingextend downwardly formfrom the underside of the bridge. When the bag is deflated, it is folded within the front and side skirts, and the front skirt is adjacent the front wall 14. As the bag is inflated, side portions of the bag are played out off of the skirts onto the front wall and the side walls of the housing.
This is further elucidated with the help of FIG. 5. When moving upwardly, the compression spring 38 will urge the rod system 37 outwardly, which is avoided by the cam 39. When the bridge has reached its highest position, the chain 40 will pulllpull the rod system 37 downwardly and outwardly, so that the lid 21 is urged to its extended position. During the following the descending of the bridge, the rod system 37 will be received by a top 41, which urges the rod system and the spring 38 back to their original positions.
Of course, a lot of other possibilities are available for the controlling of the lid 21.
In the embodiment of the loading bridge depicted in FIG.FIGS. 6 and 7, the bag 22 has been replaced by a bellows 41, such as an air spring.
Besides theThe construction of this embodiment of the loading bridge 3 is substantially equal to the embodiment depicted in FIG.FIGS. 1-3. The present embodiment is different, because no bag exists and therefore no housing, in which the bag 22 is enclosed, as there is no question anymore of a bagis necessary. The only reason for nevertheless applying a full housing is the use thereof as lost formwork. This is of course also possible together with the application of a bellows.
Instead thereof aA frame 43 is used, of which the plate 15 of the loading bridge is provided hingedly, in a way substantially as in the first embodiment. For bearing the load of the frame on the base, two brackets 44 have been provided. Further, in this embodiment, the plate 15 is reinforced by spars 42. The bellows rests with its bottom on the horizontal part of the bracket 44, whereas the top thereof is connected with a plate 45, being connected with the two middle spars 42.
Further the side wall of the loading bridge is composed of plates 19, which avoid, that part of the body becomethat becomes squeezed between the frame and the bridge.
Besides theThe construction of the bellowbellows is depicted in FIG. 7. The bellows 41 comprises a bottom plate 46, which is connected on the horizontal part 44 through an intermediate piece 47. The bellows per se, which is composed of a flexible bag 48, for instance made of rubber or of plastic, is connected with the base plate 46 and a top plate 49. To avoid extension of the bag 48 in the horizontal direction, two rings 50vehave been provided.
Through a pipe 51, extending through the intermediate piece 47 and the base plate 46, a gas, for instance air, can be supplied to make the volume of the bag 48 increase. In view of the supply of air or a gas referred is, refer to the embodiment described with the help of FIG. 3.
Besides severalSeveral features of the different embodiments can be mutually combined.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
8900557 | Oct 1990 | NL | national |
Application Ser. No. 09/598,785, filed Jun. 20, 2000, expressly abandoned, is a continuation of this reissue application which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/532,415, filed Sep. 22, 1995, now abandoned.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1421901 | Brotsch, Jr. | Jul 1922 | A |
1868935 | Breneman | Jul 1932 | A |
2070960 | Phillips | Feb 1937 | A |
2495092 | Cox et al. | Jan 1950 | A |
2610824 | Grier | Sep 1952 | A |
2689965 | Fenton | Sep 1954 | A |
2804118 | Bayerkohler | Aug 1957 | A |
2846703 | Adley | Aug 1958 | A |
3117332 | Kelley et al. | Jan 1964 | A |
3211425 | Greulich et al. | Oct 1965 | A |
3379411 | Vanderjagt | Apr 1968 | A |
3521861 | Freudenthal et al. | Jul 1970 | A |
3528118 | Smith | Sep 1970 | A |
3659899 | Phillips et al. | May 1972 | A |
3685077 | Wiener et al. | Aug 1972 | A |
3694840 | Loblick | Oct 1972 | A |
3711157 | Smock | Jan 1973 | A |
3763514 | Bishop | Oct 1973 | A |
3784255 | Smock | Jan 1974 | A |
3799504 | Vaughen | Mar 1974 | A |
3822861 | Scott | Jul 1974 | A |
3835497 | Smith | Sep 1974 | A |
3902213 | Pfleger et al. | Sep 1975 | A |
3997932 | Artzberger | Dec 1976 | A |
4012804 | Catlett | Mar 1977 | A |
4036472 | Orndorff, Jr. | Jul 1977 | A |
4060170 | Walters | Nov 1977 | A |
4081874 | Artzberger | Apr 1978 | A |
4118817 | Burnham | Oct 1978 | A |
4149469 | Bigler | Apr 1979 | A |
4156974 | Huang | Jun 1979 | A |
4238003 | Hunter | Dec 1980 | A |
4293969 | Frommelt | Oct 1981 | A |
4319666 | Hunter | Mar 1982 | A |
4343058 | Loblick | Aug 1982 | A |
4455703 | Fromme et al. | Jun 1984 | A |
4470578 | Arvidsson et al. | Sep 1984 | A |
4572579 | Saito | Feb 1986 | A |
4630989 | Davey | Dec 1986 | A |
4665579 | Bennett et al. | May 1987 | A |
4688760 | Garman et al. | Aug 1987 | A |
4722655 | Bonerb | Feb 1988 | A |
4735457 | Bonerb et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
4776052 | Delgado et al. | Oct 1988 | A |
4782542 | Sato | Nov 1988 | A |
4784567 | Hageman et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4854801 | Bonerb | Aug 1989 | A |
4861215 | Bonerb | Aug 1989 | A |
4922568 | Hageman | May 1990 | A |
4948107 | Orndorff, Jr. | Aug 1990 | A |
4955923 | Hageman | Sep 1990 | A |
5022809 | Hinson | Jun 1991 | A |
5067774 | Trowland | Nov 1991 | A |
5090773 | Guillaume | Feb 1992 | A |
5178367 | Vaughen | Jan 1993 | A |
5232202 | Watson | Aug 1993 | A |
5414886 | Sust et al. | May 1995 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
579830 | Dec 1988 | AU |
588734 | Jan 1989 | AU |
1 207 221 | Dec 1965 | DE |
2 354 388 | May 1974 | DE |
27 21 384 | Nov 1978 | DE |
3407496 | Sep 1984 | DE |
3743551 | Jul 1989 | DE |
0 001 316 | Apr 1979 | EP |
835142 | May 1960 | GB |
930163 | Jul 1963 | GB |
2 145 041 | Mar 1985 | GB |
2 206 158 | Dec 1988 | GB |
7710543 | Sep 1977 | NL |
161243 | Jul 1964 | SU |
931701 | May 1982 | SU |
1362826 | Dec 1987 | SU |
9011204 | Oct 1990 | WO |
9313267 | Jul 1993 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 08532415 | Sep 1995 | US |
Child | 07487892 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 07487892 | Mar 1990 | US |
Child | 08747873 | US |