WO1993017951A1

WO1993017951A1 - Tipping device

Info

Publication number: WO1993017951A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000074
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Lindholm-Ventola
Original assignee: Lindholm Ventola Jukka
Priority date: 1992-03-06
Filing date: 1993-03-04
Publication date: 1993-09-16
Also published as: FIU920195U0; FI163U1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a tipping device for moving and tipping a platform body or similar container, the tipping device (10) comprising a frame (11, 11') to be fastened to the first end (33) of a vehicle or work machine, and pushed under the container (50). The tipping device (10) also comprises a base (12), for supporting the container (50), fastened to one end (34) of the frame (11, 11') by means of at least one hinge (24) around which the base turns, the said base being connected to the frame (11, 11') by means of a hydraulic cylinder (13) or similar lifting element to raise and lower the base. To the base is fitted the fastening bolt mechanism (18) of the container (50), the mechanism comprising at least one locking element (15, 15') fitted to the end (26) of the base (12) to be lifted upwards, to lock the container (50) to the base (12).

Description

TIPPING DEVICE

The object of the invention is a tipping device for moving and tipping a platform body or similar container, the tipping device comprising a frame to be fastened to the first end of a vehicle or work machine and pushed under the container.

In agriculture, industry, and housing corporations in both cities and municipalities there is a considerable need for different types of materials handling and various kinds of goods transport. In addition to the need for bringing agricultural materials and equipment to the site of use, agricultural waste also has to be transported away from cowsheds, piggeries and other similar sites. The waste produced in agriculture is mainly fertilizer, straw and feed waste. Ordinarily, the waste is collected by shovelling into a wheelbarrow or similar movable containers, which are emptied when full in a suitable place reserved for waste, either on demountable platforms, tanks or for composting.

The refuse collected in cleaning industrial plants is transported in trolleys. In the cleaning and maintenance of the outdoor areas and roadsides of cities and municipalities, where the proportion of manual work is still very high, large amounts of light refuse are collected and often from an extensive area.

Disadvantages of the foregoing examples are that the amount of refuse fitting in the collection containers is small, so that there is a lot of back and forth traffic between the work site and the emptying point. Transporting the containers is also strenuous, .particularly if the transporting distance to the emptying point is long. In cleaning large parks, the refuse is usually collected into heaps and transported away later, or the refuse is lifted directly, for example, onto the rear platform of a truck or tractor. The trailers are usually very high, thus making throwing the refuse over the sides by hand difficult, in addition to which a continuously present driver is required for the vehicle.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages and to achieve a new tipping device for moving and tipping platform bodies and similar containers, the tipping device comprising a frame to be fastened rigidly by its first end to a vehicle, and pushed under the container.

It is characteristic of the tipping device relating to the invention that the tipping device also comprises

- a base, for supporting the container, fastened to one end of the frame by means of at least one hinge around which the base turns, the said base being connected to the frame by means of a hydraulic cylinder or similar lifting element to raise and lower the base; and

- a "fastening bolt mechanism for the container fitted to the base, the mechanism comprising at least one locking element fitted to the end of the base to be lifted upwards, to lock the container to the base, the said fastening bolt mechanism also comprising

- an element controlling the position of the locking element connected functionally to the hydraulic cylinder, the said element automatically locking the locking element into a locking position when the hydraulic cylinder is in the lifting position, and

- at least one spring mechanism functionally connected to the controlling element, the said mechanism automatically locking the locking element into a locking position when the hydraulic cylinder is in the resting position, to lock the container to the base.

The tipping device relating to the invention essentially comprises a light container equipped with wheels to be connected to the tipping device, of which container it is characteristic that the container consists of an open or covered platform container in which is incorporated at least one fastening aperture, for fastening the container to the tipping device, that under the container are fastened guides and wheels for moving the container, - that at one of the vertical ends of the container is formed an openable tail gate for filling and emptying the container.

By means of the tipping device relating to the invention and the containers connected to it, a maintenance system is achieved which is essentially more efficient than known systems. The container can be lightly moved indoors by one person to a collection point, from where it is transported to the emptying point by means of the tipping device fastened to a vehicle. There may be several containers in use at the same time, which means that the containers can be transported systematically on one transport base to be emptied when full.

The invention is exemplified in the following with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the tipping device relating to the invention as seen from the side.

Figure 2 shows the tipping device of figure 1 as seen from above and in partial cross section. Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism of the tipping device of figure 1 as seen from one end of the shaft and in partial cross section.

Figure 4 shows the container of the tipping device relating to the invention as seen from the front. Figure 5 shows the container of figure 4 as seen from the side. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the tipping device 10 relating to the invention as seen from the side. The tipping device 10 connected to a vehicle, for example, the lifting device of a work machine or to the spikes of a forkl ft without auxiliary equipment, or with quick- coupling parts to different front or wheel loaders, comprises a frame 11 to be fastened rigidly by its first end 33 and pushed under a container, for example a platform container, and a base 12. The frame 11 is, for example, a box girder construction made by welding from 3 mm steel plate. The frame 11 and the base 12 fasten to each other by means of at least one hinge 24, installed at^" the second end 34 of the frame 11. The length of the frame 11 varies between 1200 - 2000 mm, its width between 480 - 915 mm, and the height of the part to be pushed under the container is 150 - 230 mm. To the frame 11 is fastened a hydraulic cylinder 13, 13', which is connected to the vehicle's own hydraulic system from which the power can be taken, for example, through a double-acting hydraulics take-off, and the system is controlled from the vehicle's cabin space. The hydraulic cylinder 13, 13'. consists of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, the piston diameter of which is 50 - 63 mm, thus reaching a lifting force of 6 - 10 kN. The hydraulic cylinder 13, 13' of the tipping device 10 controls mechanically the container's fastening bolt mechanism 18, fastened to the base 12 of the tipping device 10 and consisting of various components, the said mechanism consisting of parts 14, 15, 16, 17, 17' and 19, and the lifting and lowering of the base 12. To the base 12 is fitted a fastening bolt mechanism 18 for fastening the container, the said mechanism comprising at least one locking element 15 fitted to that end 26 of the base to be lifted upwards, for locking the container to the base. The hook-like locking element 15 is fastened to the fastening element 14 incorporated in the fastening bolt mechanism 18. The fastening bolt mechanism 18 incorporates a shaft 19 which is functionally connected by its first end 44 to the hydraulic cylinder 13, and by its second end 46 connected to control the position of the locking element 15, to open or close the locking element. To the fastening element 14 is also connected, through the shaft 19, the other end 21 of the piston rod 20 belonging to the hydraulic cylinder 13, the opposite end 22 of which is fastened to the frame 11. On the shaft 19 is mounted, by means of fastening elements 17 and 17', at least one spring mechanism 16, which keeps the locking element 15 locked. When lifting the base 12 of the tipping device 10 upwards to the tipping position by means of the hydraulic cylinder 13, the sleeve¬ like end 21 of the piston rod 20 moves in a groove 23 formed at the first end 44 of the shaft 19 and, together with the spring mechanism 16, keeps the locking element 15 incorporated in the locking mechanism locked. Correspondingly, when the base 12 is being lowered, the end 21 of the piston rod 20 moves downwards in the groove 23. When the base 12 reaches the level of the frame 11, the container connected to the base 12 is disconnected by moving the piston rod 20 further backwards, thus tightening the spring mechanism 16 between the fastening means 17 and 17' of the shaft 19. When tightening, the spring mechanism 16 at the same time pulls the locking element 15 backwards and the container is released. The frame 11 is fastened to the vehicle with fasteners 30, 31 and locked with locking pins to the openings 32, 32'. The girder construction of the frame 11 also makes it possible to fasten it to a work machine, for example, to the spikes of a forklift. On the base 12, between the locking elements 15, is mounted a stop plate 40, which stops the advancing of the container when the tipping device 10 is moved under the container. The container is locked to the tipping device 10, and the tipping device 10 can be tipped with the container fastened. The hydraulic cylinder 13, 13' fastened to the frame 11 is protected from below with a protector 25.

Figure 2 shows the tipping device 10 as seen from above and in partial cross section. The tipping device 10 to be fastened to the vehicle consists of a frame 11, 11' and a base 12. The frame 11, 11' and the base 12 are fastened to each other by means of hinges 24, 24'. To the frame 11 is fastened a hydraulic cylinder 13, which is connected to the vehicle's own hydraulic system. The hydraulic cylinder 13 of the tipping device 10 controls ^"mechanically the fastening bolt mechanism 18 for fastening the container 50 to the base 12 of the tipping device 10, and the lifting and lowering function of the base 12. The fastening bolt mechanism 18 comprises a fastening element 14, to which are fastened hook-like locking elements 15, 15'. To the fastening element 14 is also fastened, through the shaft 19, the other end 21 of the piston rod belonging to the hydraulic cylinder 13, the opposite end 22 of which is fastened to the frame 11. On the shaft 19, between the fastening elements 17 and 17', are mounted spring mechanisms 16, 16', which keep the locking elements 15, 15' locked. The frame 11, 11' is fastened to the vehicle with fasteners 30, 30', 31 and 31', and locked with locking pins in the openings 32, 32' . Ducts can also be formed on the frame 11, 11' for fastening to a forklift's spikes. On the base 12, between the locking elements 15, 15', is mounted a stop plate 40.

Figure 3 shows the locking mechanism 18 of the tipping device 10 as seen from the other end 46 of the shaft 19, and in partial cross section..The hydraulic cylinder of the tipping device 10 controls mechanically the parts 14, 15 and 41 of the fastening bolt mechanism 18, for fastening the container 50 to the base. To the fastening element 14 incorporated in the fastening bolt mechanism 18 are fastened hook-like locking elements 15 by means of a joint 41. The fastening element 14 fastens to the hydraulic cylinder through the shaft 19. On the shaft 19, between the fastening elements 17, 17' shown in figure 2, is mounted a spring mechanism 16, 16' which keeps the locking element 15 locked in position A. When the base 12 of the tipping device 10 is lifted upwards into the tipping position by means of the hydraulic cylinder, the spring mechanism keeps the locking element 15 incorporated in the locking mechanism automatically locked. Similarly, when the base 12 is lowered, as the base 12 reaches the level of the frame, the container 50 fastened to the base 12 is detached by moving the piston rod of the cylinder further backwards, thus tightening the spring mechanism between the fastening elements of the shaft 19. In tightening, the return spring at the same time pulls the locking element 15, fastened by means of the joint 41 to the fastening element 14, backwards into position B, and the locking effect on the container 50 is released. The container 50 is locked to the tipping device 10 through the transverse axle 51 fastened to the container 50, around which axle the hook-like point 70 of the locking element 15 can be locked. In the locking position, the point 70 of the locking element 15 pushes into sight through the aperture 52 of the container 50 to signal to the driver in the cab that locking has been successful.

Figure 4 shows the container 50 to be fastened to the tipping device 10 relating to the invention as seen from the front. The tipping device 10 can be provided with a box-like container 50 which can be moved by lifting with the tipping device 10 or by pushing from the handle 53 fastened to the front edge 55 of the container to a place from where it can be collected by the tipping device. Handles 53 can also be fastened to the rear edge of the container to facilitate handling. The container 50 consists of an open or covered platform container, on the front edge 55 of which is incorporated at least one fastening aperture 52, 52' for fastening the container to the tipping device 10. The front edge 55 is protected against dents by a front plate 54. Under the container 50, on triangular supports 57, 57', are fastened platform guides 56, 56' which facilitate the mounting of the container 50 on the tipping device 10. The wheels 58 mounted under the container 50 facilitate its moving. The wheels 58 situated under the front edge 55 of the container 50 are equipped with wheel supports 59 which turn 360°. As material for the container 50 can be used, for example, film plywood or aluminium plate framed with aluminium profiles. Before fastening, all the profiles used are sealed with adhesive mass.

Figure 5 shows the container 50 of figure 4 as seen from the side. The wheels 58 located under the container 50 facilitate the moving of the container. The wheels 58 located under the front edge 55 of the container 50 are equipped with wheel supports 59, which turn 360°. The wheels 58 located under the rear edge 64 of the container 50 are fastened by fixed wheel supports 60. If so required, the container 50 may also be equipped with fixed leg parts if it is not necessary to be able to push the container manually. On the vertical rear edge 64 is formed an openable tail gate 62 to facilitate the filling and emptying of the container 50. The tail gate 62 opens semi- automatically when tipping the tipping device 10, controlled by the piston 61 of the gas spring. The piston 61 fastens on the tail gate 62 through an axle 63, which is fastened to the side 66 of the. container 50 at its centre point 65. There is one piston 61 on both sides 66. In its extreme position, the tail gate 62 opens so high that it is possible to work under it without knocking oneself. On the lower edge of the tail gate 62 can also be mounted hinges, to the tail gate both lockable and detachable, operating also if necessary as a ramp. The container 50 is emptied at the emptying point by tipping by means of the tipping device 10, and immediately after emptying, the container can be transported and lifted back for delivering or collecting materials or equipment. Empty containers 50 can be stacked on top of each other by machine or manually.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention may vary within the limits of the claims presented below.

Claims

1. A tipping device for moving and tipping a platform body or similar container, the tipping device (10) comprising a frame (11, 11') to be fastened to the first end (33) of a vehicle or work machine, and pushed under the container (50), characterized in that the tipping device (10) also comprises

- a base (12), for supporting the container (50), fastened to one end (34) of the frame (11, 11') by means of at least one hinge (24) around which the base turns, the said base being connected to the frame (11, 11') by means of a hydraulic cylinder (13) or similar lifting element to raise and lower the base; and

- a fastening bolt mechanism (18) for the container (50) fitted to the base, the mechanism comprising at least one locking element (15, 15') fitted to the end (26) of the base (12) to be lifted upwards, to lock the container (50) to the base (12), the said fastening bolt mechanism (18) also comprising

- an element (19) controlling the position of the locking element (15, 15') connected functionally to the hydraulic cylinder (13), the said element automatically locking the locking element (15, 15') into a locking position when the hydraulic cylinder (13) is in the lifting position, and - at least one spring mechanism (16, 16') functionally connected to the controlling element (19), the said mechanism automatically locking the locking element (15, 15' ) into a locking position when the hydraulic cylinder (13) is in the resting position, to lock the container ' (50) to the base (12).

2. A tipping device (10) as- claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening bolt mechanism (18) comprises a shaft (19) which is functionally connected by its first end (44) to a hydraulic cylinder (13) and by its second end (46) connected to control the position of the locking element (15, 15'), to open and close the locking element.

3. A tipping device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the spring mechanism (16, 16') comprises at least one spring which is connected to the shaft (19) in the fastening bolt mechanism (18) controlling the position of the locking element (15, 15').

4. A tipping device (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that in the lowered position of the base (12), the locking element (15, 15') can be opened against the force of the spring mechanism (16, 16') by pulling in the hydraulic cylinder (13).

5. A tipping device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the container (50), for example an open or covered platform container, incorporates at least one fastening aperture (52, 52') for fastening it by means of locking elements (15, 15') to the tipping device (10).