Loading and unloading system for a vehicle

摘要

An loading and unloading system is described that allows a load to be loaded and unloaded to and from the bed of a vehicle on which the loading and unloading system is mounted. The loading and unloading system is affixed to a vehicle bed and includes an enclosure providing structural support for the lifting mechanism and shelter for cargo security and protection. The lifting mechanism, in conjunction with the enclosure structure, loads or unloads cargo that is secured to a lifting platform using vertical linear motion as well as horizontal linear motion.

主权项

1. A vehicle mounted loading and unloading system comprising:
a stationary frame comprising:
first and second side wall frames spaced apart from each other to define a cargo space, each side wall frame comprising at least one support surface for contacting a load-bearing surface of a vehicle when the loading and unloading system is mounted to the vehicle;a horizontal support rail; andtwo horizontal drive rails located along a top of the stationary frame at a converging angle relative to each other; a horizontal movement assembly comprising:
a sliding frame sized to fit between the first and second side wall frames;a supporting assembly connected to the sliding frame, the supporting assembly contacting the horizontal support rail to support the sliding frame and allow horizontal movement of the sliding frame;two drive assemblies each of the drive assemblies comprising two rollers arranged on opposite sides of a respective one of the horizontal drive rails; anda linear drive mechanism connected between the two drive assemblies and attached to the sliding frame of the horizontal movement assembly, the linear drive mechanism capable of changing the distance between the two drive assemblies causing the two drive assemblies to change position along the two converging horizontal drive rails, thereby causing a horizontal movement of the horizontal movement assembly; a vertical movement assembly comprising:
a first member having a first end connected to the sliding frame of the horizontal movement assembly; anda second member slidably coupled to the first member and having a second end extendable away from and retractable towards the first end of the first member in a vertical direction; and a cargo platform connected to the second end of the second member.