G&g Intellectual Properties, Inc.

Greenbrier Intermodal, Inc.

G & G Intellectural Properties, Inc.

Peter Gearin

Everett A Leech

Terence Halpin

David J Miller

Robert N Peterson

Donald L Kiive

William Youngblood

Gerald Popp

Stephen Farrow

James D Pileggi

H John Bates

Kermit L Achterman

William C Beutler

Michael P Browne

An adjustable frame for carrying vehicles between elongate upright sides includes, on each side, a forward end and a rearward end, each end including an upper and lower rail section joined by elongate brace members, where the respective ends are separated from one another and a length-adjusting insert is carried between such ends to selectively permit adjustment of the position of the forward end relative to the rearward end while maintaining the ends in end-to-end alignment. On each side of the frame, preferably at least one of the upper rail sections has an end portion defining an open-ended hollow tube extending lengthwise of that side within which an elongate arm of the length-adjusting insert is slidably moveable so that structures on the outside surfaces of the rail sections will not interfere with length adjustment. Preferably, on each side, the upper and lower rail sections of the respective ends together define longitudinally aligned upper and lower pairs of open-ended tubes in which are slidably received an upper and lower pair of arms of the length-adjusting insert, thereby permitting the insert to remain permanently in position on each side regardless of the length selected. Preferably, also, the forward and rearward ends of the frame are lockable to the arms of the insert while keeping the insert centered longitudinally with respect to each side.

Adjustable vehicle-carrying frame

Apparatus for supporting automobiles, including racks each capable of carrying two automobiles, one above the other, particularly in intermodal cargo containers, and a method for use of the apparatus. Each rack includes wheels on which the rack is supported for movement when it is in a collapsed configuration, for insertion of the rack into a cargo container. A pair of wheeled cradles carries an automobile by supporting its wheels. One pair of such cradles is supported by an upper pair of longitudinal beams which are each supported by a pivot connection to a collapsible upright at one end and by an upright strut spaced apart from that end. Another pair of cradles is fastened in a selected location to a pair of horizontal lower longitudinal support members of the rack, to hold the second automobile in a desired position beneath the first. In its collapsed configuration the rack is very low, enabling several empty racks to be carried in a single cargo container.

Automobile transporting system including insertable tilt-up rack

Method for handling and transporting wheeled vehicles

A system for loading motor vehicles onto, and unloading motor vehicles from, a transporting vehicle enables motor vehicles to be supported one above the other on a frame, after which the frame with its supported motor vehicles is moved as a unit onto a transporting vehicle at a loading location. After transport of the frame and its motor vehicles from the loading location to a destination, the motor vehicles are unloaded from the transporting vehicle not as a unit but rather individually while the frame remains on the transporting vehicle.

Loading and unloading system for motor vehicle transporter

A handling apparatus pulls a group of lightweight cargo carrying sleeves out of a container in which they have been transported onto a storage bed. The collapsed sleeves are individually supported in an upright orientation on the bed by fingers which can be selectively withdrawn from a sleeve when it is to be removed. An overhead crane has a carriage that translates across the sleeves on the storage bed and a sleeve loading and unloading apparatus that is positioned beside the bed. The carriage can also be raised and lowered. The carriage carries hooks which engage the sidewalls of the sleeves and can be moved toward and away from one another. After the hooks engage the sidewalls of a sleeve the carriage is raised to lift the sleeve out of the group. The carriage is then moved above the loading apparatus and the hooks are moved apart from one another to expand the sleeve. Finally, the carriage is lowered to place the expanded sleeve on the loading apparatus and the hooks are disengaged from its sidewalls. The apparatus includes a sled that traverses the storage bed and is used to pull a group of sleeves out of the cargo container in which the group has been transported. The apparatus is used to remove sleeves from the loading apparatus by reversing the above-described procedure.

Handling apparatus for collapsible lightweight cargo carrying sleeves

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Peter Gearin