METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING MOTOR VEHICLES FROM LIGHTWEIGHT SLEEVES WHICH ARE CARRIED IN STANDARD CARGO CONTAINERS

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for loading motor vehicles (10) into an open-centered, lightweight sleeve (12) which carries a plurality of the vehicles and is inserted into a standard cargo-carrying container (14). A sled (86), which is arranged to carry at least one vehicle, is movable on tracks (82) which extend from outside of the sleeve (12) across substantially its entire extent. Thus, vehicles can be driven onto the sled (86) outside of the sleeve and then transported into the sleeve on the sled. Once in the sleeve a vehicle is raised by gantries (28) which are located outside of the side walls of the sleeve (12). The gantries (28) have lifting cylinders (48) which releasably attach to cradle latches (64) which are slidable on and attachable to tension members (74) that are suspended from the sides of the sleeve (12). The cradle latches (64) engage the ends of the cradles (56), which are carried in the sled (86) below the tires of the vehicle. Thus, when the cradles are raised by the cradle latches they engage the vehicle's tires and the vehicle is raised with them. The sleds (86) are movable by a motor-driven endless chain (90) having a clip (92) which is releasably attachable to the sled. The sled includes rams (116) which are extendable to positions where they protrude past the side walls of the sleeve. Thus, the sled can be used to pull a sleeve (12) out of and push a sleeve into a container (14).