CARRIAGE CARRYING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system for transporting articles or loads, the system being formed by at least one carriage comprising a platform provided with at least two axles supporting wheels, and a carrying vehicle, wherein the carrying vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle comprising a platform that can be slid underneath one of the carriages, the platform comprising means for lifting the carriage high enough to prevent contact of the wheels with the ground.

Claims

1. A system for transporting articles or loads, comprising: at least one carriage including a carriage platform and at least two axles supporting wheels; and a carrying vehicle wherein the carrying vehicle is a self-propelled vehicle comprising a vehicle platform configured to slide underneath the at least one carriage, the vehicle platform comprising means for lifting the carriage high enough to prevent contact of the wheels with the ground.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for lifting the carriage include at least one actuator interacting configured to interact with a lower surface of the carriage.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrying vehicle comprises a propulsion unit and a frame extending from the propulsion unit, the frame provided with arms for wedging the wheels of the carriage between a retracted position and a position in which they come into contact with the wheels of the carriage.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the propulsion unit comprises a front frame to which two lateral subassemblies are fixed each of the two lateral subassemblies comprising a motorized and directional wheel configured to be steered independently of one another and a means for coupling the frame with the front frame.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the frame is formed comprises a structure less than 100 millimeters thick comprising a wheel with a section of less than 100 millimeters operable vertically by a lift pad.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrying vehicle comprises an autonomous driving vehicle.

7. A system for transporting articles or loads, comprising: at least one carriage including a carriage platform and at least two axles supporting wheels; and a self-propelled carrying vehicle comprising a vehicle platform configured to slide underneath the at least one carriage, the vehicle platform comprising a lifting mechanism for lifting the carriage off the ground.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises at least one actuator configured to interact with the carriage.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the self-propelled carrying vehicle comprises a propulsion unit and a frame coupled to the propulsion unit, the frame provided with movable arms configured to move between a first position and a second position, the movable arms engaging at least two of the wheels of the carriage when the carriage is disposed over the frame and the moveable arms are in the second position.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the propulsion unit comprises a front frame and two lateral subassemblies coupled to the front frame, each of the two lateral subassemblies comprising a motorized and directional wheel configured to be steered independently of one another, and a means for coupling the frame with the front frame.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises a structure less than 100 millimeters thick comprising a wheel with a section of less than 100 millimeters operable vertically by a lift pad.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the carrying vehicle comprises an autonomous driving vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present disclosure will be better understood on reading the following description, relative to a non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a system according to a first embodiment variant of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic bottom view of a system according to a first embodiment variant of the present disclosure; and

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic bottom view of a system according to a second embodiment variant of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the system according to the present disclosure comprises a carriage (100) and a carrying vehicle (200). The carrying vehicle (200) can be steered by a driver, and in this case comprise a cabin, or can be autonomous for automated travel without a driver.

[0027] The carriage (100) can be a “standard” carriage, in particular, a carriage used for loading and unloading baggage or cargo containers (110) in airports, for example. It comprises a frame (101) supporting a front axle and a rear axle, generally hinged and linked to a drawbar or a hitching ball, and comprises wheels (102, 103).

[0028] The carrying vehicle (200) includes a self-propelled unit (250) provided with a pair of motorized wheels (214, 215), pivoting independently with respect to guide axes (216, 217). This self-propelled unit (250) is extended by a platform (240) whose dimensions are adapted to allow sliding between the wheels (102, 103) of a carriage (100) passing under the frame (101).

[0029] In a first embodiment variant shown in FIG. 2, the platform (240) of the carrying vehicle (200) comprises arms (210, 220; 211, 221; 212, 222; 213, 223) in this first variant that are hinged to allow placement on the tread of the wheels (102, 103), respectively, in order to be able to lift the carriage, or to retract to allow the platform (240) to be positioned under the carriage.

[0030] The platform (240) further comprises at least one wheel (230) mounted on an inflatable pad (231, 232), making it possible to lift or lower the platform (240).

[0031] The two arms (210, 212) closest to the self-propelled unit are fixed. They abut against the tread of the carriage tires when the platform (240) is slid under the carriage frame. During this step of positioning the platform (240) under the carriage (100), the other arms are tilted to disappear, and when the arms (210, 212) come into abutment, actuators cause the other arms (220, 222) to pivot so as to block the front wheels (102) of the carriage (100), then cause the rear arms (211, 221; 213, 223) to tilt so as to block the rear wheels (103) of the carriage (100).

Second Embodiment Variant

[0032] In a second embodiment variant shown in FIG. 3, the platform (240) of the carrying vehicle (200) has dimensions (width, height) allowing it to be slid under the frame (101) of the carriage (100), then to be lifted by two actuators (260, 270) coming into contact with the lower surface of the frame (101) to lift it high enough that the wheels no longer come into contact with the ground.

Use

[0033] This solution makes it possible to optimize the organization of loading and unloading for the supply and/or transit of loads. The carriages are placed on the storage and/or retrieval sites and can be moved manually or pulled by conventional tractors within the perimeter of the loading or unloading areas. When a carriage is ready to be transferred, any of the carrying vehicles can come and position themselves under the carriage to move it without waiting for an entire ream of carriages to be loaded. After transport, the carrying vehicle is removed from the carriage and the carrying vehicle is available for further movement.

[0034] This thus avoids immobilizing tractors in the loading or unloading areas, and bringing together a train of carriages connected by drawbars, the handling of which is delicate and which can cause accidents.