LOADING ARM ARRANGEMENT FOR A SWAP BODY VEHICLE FOR LOADING TRANSPORT CONTAINERS WITH A HOOK

Abstract

The invention relates to a loading arm assembly for a load-handling vehicle, having a main arm, having an auxiliary arm, and having a gripping hook, wherein the loading arm assembly is configured for unloading and loading transportation containers having a hook, wherein a pivot arm part is disposed on the auxiliary arm so as to be pivotable by way of an articulation, wherein a gripping hook is disposed so as to be pivotable on the pivot arm part. The loading arm assembly is improved in that the pivot arm part in a transporting position engages in a clearance of the auxiliary arm.

Claims

1. Loading arm assembly for a load-handling vehicle, having a main arm, having an auxiliary arm, and having a gripping hook, wherein the loading arm assembly is configured for unloading and loading transportation containers having a hook, wherein a pivot arm part is disposed on the auxiliary arm so as to be pivotable by way of an articulation, wherein a gripping hook is disposed so as to be pivotable on the pivot arm part, wherein the pivot arm part in a transporting position engages in a clearance of the auxiliary arm.

2. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary arm has two legs, wherein the legs delimit the clearance, wherein the pivot arm part is disposed so as to be articulated on the legs.

3. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the articulation is situated in a range of 40% to 60% of the longitudinal extent of the pivot arm part, between a first and a second end of the pivot arm part.

4. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gripping hook by means of a further articulation is disposed so as to be rotatable on the pivot arm part.

5. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gripping hook is disposed on one end of the pivot arm part.

6. Loading arm assembly according to the preceding claim 5, wherein the pivot arm part has two legs, wherein the gripping hook is disposed so as to be articulated on said two legs.

7. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary arm is configured so as to be telescopic, wherein the auxiliary arm has a first telescopic arm part that is disposed at a fixed angle on the main arm, and has a second telescopic arm part, wherein the second telescopic arm part is capable of being telescopically moved relative to the first telescopic arm part, wherein the pivot arm part is disposed so as to be articulated on the second telescopic arm part.

8. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein a crossbeam having at least two corner grippers is disposed on the pivot arm part, in particular on one end of the pivot arm part.

9. Loading arm assembly according to the preceding claim 8, wherein the crossbeam is pivotable about a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis extends transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm part, and transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis of the crossbeam.

10. Loading arm assembly according to the preceding claim 9, wherein the crossbeam is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the pivot arm part.

11. Loading arm assembly according to claim 1, wherein the crossbeam and the pivot arm part are connected by way of a universal joint.

Description

[0032] In the drawing:

[0033] FIG. 1 in a schematic lateral view shows a load-handling vehicle having a loading arm assembly in a basic position;

[0034] FIG. 2 in a schematic lateral view shows part of the load-handling vehicle having the loading arm assembly in a deployed position when loading a roll-on/roll-off container having a hook;

[0035] FIG. 3 in a schematic rear view shows the loading arm assembly;

[0036] FIG. 4 in a schematic lateral view shows the loading arm assembly, wherein the main arm is disposed so as to be horizontal, and the auxiliary arm is disposed so as to be vertical;

[0037] FIG. 5 in a schematic lateral view shows the loading arm assembly, wherein the main arm having the auxiliary arm is disposed so as to be pivoted, and wherein a pivot arm part and a gripping hook are pivoted towards the front; and

[0038] FIG. 6 in a schematic lateral view shows the loading arm assembly in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the gripping hook and a pivot arm part are tilted towards the rear.

[0039] A load-handling vehicle 1 can be readily seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The load-handling vehicle 1 has a truck bed 2 and a cab 3. The load-handling vehicle 1 is in particular configured for defence applications. To this end, the cab 3 can be configured so as to be armoured, for example. The load-handling vehicle 1 is in particular suitable not only for on-road use but also for off-road use.

[0040] Dissimilar roll-on/roll-off containers 4 such as, for example, an ISO container (not illustrated) or a transportation container 5 having a hook 7, are now preferably capable of being loaded by way of the load-handling vehicle 1. A corresponding roll-on/roll-off flatbed 6 is illustrated as a roll-on/roll-off container 4 here. The load-handling vehicle 1 has a loading arm assembly 8 which is suitable for loading ISO containers as well as transportation containers 5 having a hook 7.

[0041] The loading arm assembly 8 has a main arm 9, wherein the main arm 9 by way of the one end thereof is articulated so as to be pivotable on the truck bed 2, in particular on a vehicle chassis or the like. A drive, in particular in the form of a hydraulically activated piston/cylinder unit 10, is present for pivoting the main arm 9. Alternatively, a pneumatic or a motorized drive can be provided. The main arm 9 can in particular be configured so as to be telescopic in the longitudinal direction of said main arm 9 so as to be able to receive roll-on/roll-off containers 4 of dissimilar length. An auxiliary arm 11 is disposed on the other end of the telescopic part of the main arm 9, wherein the auxiliary arm 11 extends so as to be substantially perpendicular to the main arm 9. The auxiliary arm 11 herein is fastened to the main arm 9 at a fixed angle. The auxiliary arm 11 is in particular fastened to a telescopic part of the main arm 9. This design embodiment can also be referred to as a thrust hook. The auxiliary arm 11 can also be referred to as a thrust arm. It is conceivable for the auxiliary arm 11 to be configured as an articulated arm and be disposed so as to be pivotable on the main arm 9 (not illustrated).

[0042] The auxiliary arm 11 now preferably has two gripper systems. On the one hand, a gripper system for gripping ISO containers is present, and a gripper system for gripping transportation containers 5 having a hook 7 is present, on the other hand. An adapter can be dispensed with on account thereof.

[0043] The auxiliary arm 11 here has two telescopic arm parts 12, 13 which are disposed so as to be mutually displaceable. A pivot arm part 14 is disposed on the end of the second telescopic arm part 13. A pivot arm part 14 is disposed on the auxiliary arm 11, specifically on the telescopic arm part 13, by way of an articulation 15. A gripping hook 16 is pivotably disposed on the pivot arm part 14. The gripping hook 16 is connected to the pivot arm part 14 by way of an articulation 17. The telescopic arm part 13 has a clearance 18, wherein the pivot arm part 14 in a transporting position (cf. FIG. 1) engages in the clearance 18 of the auxiliary arm 11, specifically of the second telescopic arm part 13. This has the advantage that only little installation space is required in the transporting position (cf. FIG. 1). The auxiliary arm 11 and the pivot arm part 14 in the transporting position extend so as to be coaxial, specifically in particular in a cross-sectional plane of the load-handling vehicle 1. On account thereof, roll-on/roll-off containers 4 that are comparatively long in the axial direction of the load-handling vehicle 1 can be loaded. This loading arm assembly 8 is particularly suitable for comparatively short load-handling vehicles 1 for 20 ft containers and corresponding roll-on/roll-off containers 4.

[0044] The second telescopic arm part 13 on the free end thereof has two legs 19 which are mutually spaced apart in parallel, wherein the two legs 19 delimit the clearance 18. The two legs 19 encompass the pivot arm part 14 in the region of the articulation 15. A particularly installation-space-saving disposal of the pivot arm part 14 and thus of the gripping hook 16 in the transporting position is enabled on account thereof.

[0045] The gripping hook 16 is preferably disposed so as to be pivotable on that end of the pivot arm part 14 that reaches into the clearance 18. The pivot arm part 14 has a main body and two legs 30, 31, wherein the gripping hook 16 is disposed so as to be pivotable on the legs 30, 31. The legs 30, 31 form a first free end of the pivot arm part 14. The pivot arm part 14 on the main body thereof is pivotably connected to the auxiliary arm 11.

[0046] The gripping hook 16 has a bar-shaped lever region and a hook region at one end. A piston/cylinder unit 29 engages on the other end that is formed by the lever region. The piston/cylinder unit 29 engages on the lever region of the gripping hook, on the one hand, and on the pivot arm part 14, or on a mounting that is connected to the pivot arm part 14, respectively.

[0047] The other gripper system for gripping ISO containers may now be explained in more detail by means of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0048] The telescopic capability of the auxiliary arm 11 is indicated by the arrow P1 in FIG. 3. The crossbeam 20, 21 is disposed on a second, free end of the pivot arm part 14. The crossbeam 20, 21 herein, substantially in the centre thereof, is disposed on the end of the pivot arm part 14. The crossbeam 20, 21 has a first crossbeam region 20 and a second crossbeam region 21 which in FIG. 3 in the longitudinal direction of the crossbeam 20, 21 protrude in each case to the left and the right laterally beyond the pivot arm part 14. Each of the two crossbeam regions 20, 21 is configured so as to be telescopic. The telescopic capability is indicated by the arrows 22, 23. Corner grippers 24, 25 which are in each case pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the crossbeam 20, 21, this being indicated by the arrow P4 (cf. FIG. 4) are disposed on the free ends of the crossbeam regions 20, 21. The respective movements of the crossbeam regions 20, 21, or of the corner grippers 24, 25, respectively, is performed hydraulically, pneumatically, or in a motorized manner. On account of the pivot arm part 14 being pivotable relative to the second telescopic arm part 13, specifically about the articulation 15, the crossbeam 20, 21 can also be pivoted as is indicated by the arrow P2 in FIG. 3. To this end, a piston/cylinder unit 26 is disposed on the auxiliary arm 11, specifically on the first telescopic arm part 12 and on one end of the pivot arm part 14, here specifically on the end having the crossbeam 20, 21.

[0049] A particular advantage of the loading arm assembly 8 is that the crossbeam 20, 21 is pivotable relative to the pivot arm part 14 about two axes. This is achieved in that the crossbeam 20, 21 is connected to the pivot arm part 14 by way of a universal joint (not illustrated). In an alternative design embodiment, a ball joint (not illustrated) can be used instead of a universal joint, for example.

[0050] A housing 27 is disposed on the end of the pivot arm part 14, wherein the universal joint is disposed within the housing 27. The housing 27 has furthermore in each case two penetration openings so that the crossbeam 20, 21 can engage through the housing 27.

[0051] On account thereof, the crossbeam 20 is pivotable about the longitudinal axis 28 of the pivot arm part 14 as well as about a transverse axis (cf. arrows P5 and P6). The transverse axis herein extends transversely to the pivot arm part 14 as well as transversely to the crossbeam 20, 21. The longitudinal axis 28 and the transverse axis are mutually perpendicular.

[0052] When the load-handling vehicle 1 and the roll-on/roll-off container 4 in the form of the ISO container stand at an angle to one another and are not mutually aligned, this can be equalized by pivoting the crossbeam 20, 21 about the longitudinal axis 28. When the ISO container stands so as to be tilted about the longitudinal axis thereof, for example because said ISO container has sunk into soft ground, this can be equalized by pivoting the crossbeam 20, 21 about the transverse axis.

[0053] On account of this potential pivoting capability of the crossbeam 20, 21 about the longitudinal axis 28 (cf. arrow P6) and the transverse axis (cf. arrow P5), the ISO container can thus be reliably received by the loading arm assembly 8 even in the case of difficult environmental conditions.

[0054] The loading arm assembly having a pivoted main arm 9 and auxiliary arm 11 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. The pivot arm part 14 and the gripping hook 16 in FIG. 5 herein is pivoted towards the front in the direction of the cab 3 (not illustrated). The pivot arm part 14 and the gripping hook is pivoted towards the rear in FIG. 6.

[0055] A particular advantage of this loading arm assembly 8 lies in that it is possible for the ISO containers and/or the transportation containers 6 with the corresponding hook 7 to be loaded and unloaded in a fully automated manner.

[0056] It is neither necessary that an adapter for retrofitting ISO containers 5 to a gripping hook system has to be manually inserted, nor is it necessary that the load-handling vehicle 1 is precisely aligned with the ISO container 5, or that the ISO container 5 stands at the same inclination as the load-handling vehicle 1.

[0057] The disadvantages mentioned at the outset are therefore avoided, and corresponding advantages are achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0058] 1 Load-handling vehicle

[0059] 2 Truck bed

[0060] 3 Cab

[0061] 4 Roll-on/roll-off container

[0062] 5 Transportation container

[0063] 6 Roll-on/roll-off flatbed

[0064] 7 Hook

[0065] 8 Loading arm assembly

[0066] 9 Main arm

[0067] 10 Piston/cylinder unit

[0068] 11 Auxiliary arm

[0069] 12 First telescopic arm part

[0070] 13 Second telescopic arm part

[0071] 14 Pivot arm part

[0072] 15 Articulation

[0073] 16 Gripping hook

[0074] 17 Articulation

[0075] 18 Clearance

[0076] 19 Leg of the auxiliary arm, or of the second telescopic arm part, respectively

[0077] 20 Crossbeam region/crossbeam

[0078] 21 Crossbeam region/crossbeam

[0079] 22 Arrow

[0080] 23 Arrow

[0081] 24 Corner gripper

[0082] 25 Corner gripper

[0083] 26 Piston/cylinder unit

[0084] 27 Housing

[0085] 28 Longitudinal axis of the pivot arm part

[0086] 29 Piston/cylinder unit

[0087] 30 Leg of the pivot arm part

[0088] 31 Leg of the pivot arm part

[0089] P1 Arrow

[0090] P2 Arrow

[0091] P3 Arrow

[0092] P4 Arrow

[0093] P5 Arrow