| 摘要 |
The invention is a new method and apparatus for alternatively utilizing an enclosed trailer for vehicular and non-vehicular cargo. A pair of tracks located on opposite sides of the center line of the vehicle are independently mounted on a series of full range hydraulic actuators, and lowered and raised to effect the loading of a series of vehicles on the tracks and then raising that series of vehicles to a height above the floor of the trailer to allow the loading of a second layer of vehicles on the floor of the trailer. The tracks can be articulated to a position defined by the full range of travel of the hydraulic actuators, thereby stowing the tracks in a position immediately adjacent to the floor or ceiling of the enclosure, freeing the largest possible portion of the interior for conventional cargo. In an alternative configuration, a movable platform roughly of the dimensions of the trailer floor is used in place of the tracks to provide elevated storage areas for vehicular and non-vehicular cargo. In addition, in either configuration, a segmented track or platform can be utilized to allow for differing dimensions of cargo, whereby the tracks or platform are divided into independently actuated sections.
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