Loading container means

Abstract

A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber of the body which is enclosed by a door, at least one of the walls is movable for controllably reducing the size of the chamber of the body to confine the material stored therein, and a plurality of wheel units movable between a retracted position and an extended position for movably supporting the body over a supporting surface when in their extended position. The body is of elongated configuration with first and second ends which are respectively provided with wheel units which are selectively actuatable allowing controlled elevating, lowering and leveling of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber of said body, a plurality of wheel units secured with respect to the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, said wheel units providing a wheel element movable between a retracted position and an extended position, means for actuating the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions including pneumatic means, said wheel elements including an arm pivoted at one end and supporting a swivel mounted wheel at the other end, said pneumatic means including a pneumatic cylinder secured at one end with the bottom wall of said body and having its other end pivotally attached to said arm for moving said arm from a retracted position proximate the bottom wall of said body to an extended position away from said bottom wall, and lock means for releasably securing said arm in its extended terminal position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said body. 
     
     
       2. The container means of claim 1 including a plurality of pedestal members extending downwardly from said body for supporting said body on said supporting surface against movement thereover when said wheel elements are in their retracted positions. 
     
     
       3. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber of said body, a plurality of wheel units secured with respect to the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, said wheel units providing a wheel element movable between a retracted position and an extended position, means for actuating the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions, said body being of elongated configuration with first and second ends, the first and second ends of said body being each respectively provided with said wheel units, said means for actuating respectively the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions including pneumatic means, and control means having a selector valve means for providing independent fluid pressure actuation for the wheel units provided at the first end of said body with respect to said wheel units provided at the second end of said body, thereby allowing the controlled elevating, lowering and leveling of said body. 
     
     
       4. The container means of claim 3 in which each of said wheel units includes a pneumatic cylinder with a telescoping arm having an extending end supporting a swivel mounted wheel for being moved in a vertical direction between a retracted position and an extended position by actuation of said pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
       5. The container means of claim 3 including rod means for engaging said wheel elements and being movable between first and second terminal positions for actuating said wheel elements respectively between their retracted to extended positions independent of the actuation provided by said pneumatic means, said rod means being provided with means for permitting the independent actuation by said pneumatic means of the wheel elements at the first and second ends of said body. 
     
     
       6. The container means of claim 5 including lock means for releasably securing said arm in its extended terminal position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said body. 
     
     
       7. The container means of claim 3 in which a pivot wheel unit is provided intermediate the ends of said body which is extendable downwardly from said bottom wall to an extent allowing it and the wheel units of either of the first and second ends of the body to concurrently contact the supporting surface while the wheel units at the other end disengage said surface, said pivot wheel unit having a wheel element movable between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby when said pivot wheel unit is in its extended position said body can be turned and directed about said pivot wheel unit enhancing the control of movement of said body over said supporting surface. 
     
     
       8. The container means of claim 7 in which said pneumatic means actuates said pivot wheel unit between retracted and extended positions, and said control means provides respectively independent actuation for said pivot wheel unit and the wheel units provided at the ends of said body, and including rod means for engaging said wheel elements and being movable for actuating said wheel elements between their retracted to extended positions independent of the actuation provided by said pneumatic means, whereby said wheel elements may be independently actuated by such mechanical means. .[.9. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber of said body, a plurality of wheel units secured with respect to the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, said wheel units providing a wheel element movable between a retracted position and an extended position, means for actuating the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions, the wheel elements including an arm pivoted at one end and supporting a wheel mounted at the other end, and said means for actuating the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions comprising rod means engaging said wheel elements and being movable for actuating said elements between their retracted to extended positions..]. .[.10. The container means of claim 9 including lock means for releasably securing said arm in its extended terminal position substantially 
     
     
        perpendicular to the bottom wall of said body..]. 11. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber of said body, a plurality of wheel units secured with respect to the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, said wheel units providing a wheel element movable between a retracted position and an extended position, means for actuating the wheel elements between their retracted and extended positions including pneumatic means, and rod means for engaging said wheel elements and being movable for actuating said wheel elements between their retracted to extended positions independent of the actuation provided by said pneumatic means, whereby said wheel 
     
     
        elements may be independently actuated by such mechanical means. 12. The container means of claim 11 including lock means for releasably securing said arm in its extended terminal position substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said body. .Iadd. 13. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, at least one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber, a plurality of wheel units adjacent the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, a plurality of pedestal units adjacent the bottom wall of said body for supporting said body on a supporting surface against movement, said body being of elongated configuration with first and second ends, the first and second ends of said body being respectively provided with said wheel units and said pedestal units, fluid means for actuating one of said plurality of units, said fluid means including pressure responsive means operatively associated with said one of said plurality of units and control means having selector valve means for providing fluid pressure to said pressure responsive means such that said one of said plurality of units can be retracted and extended whereby each of said plurality of units is selectively operable to support said body on the supporting surface, and rod means engaging said one of said plurality units for actuating said one of said plurality of units for movement between the retracted and extended positions independent of the actuation provided by said fluid means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. A loading container means comprising a body having horizontal top and bottom walls and vertical side walls providing a storage chamber therein, one of said walls providing an opening to said chamber, a plurality of wheel units depending from the bottom wall of said body for movably supporting said body over a supporting surface, a plurality of pedestal units depending from the bottom wall of said body for supporting said body on a supporting surface against movement, said body being of elongated configuration with first and second ends, the first and second ends of said body each respectively provided with said wheel units and said pedestal units, fluid means for actuating one of said plurality of units, said fluid means including pressure responsive means operatively associated with said one of said plurality of units and control means having selective valve means for providing fluid pressure to said pressure responsive means such that said one of said plurality of units can be retracted and extended whereby each of said plurality of units is selectively operable to support said body on supporting surface, lock means movable with said one of said plurality of units between its retracted and extended positions for retaining said one of said plurality of units in the extended position in the event the fluid pressure is removed. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. The container means of claim 14 including rod means engaging said one of said plurality of units for actuating said one of said plurality of units for movement between the retracted and extended positions independent of the actuation provided by said fluid means. .Iaddend.