Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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collapsed sleeves are individually supported in an upright orientation on the bed by fingers which can be selectively withdrawn from a sleeve when it is to be removed.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.

Abstract: A system for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles on a transporting vehicle, such as a ship or rail car, comprises supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles on each of a plurality of frames in vertically-spaced relation to each other and then inserting the respective frames and their supported vehicles matingly into respective enclosures. The enclosures, with their frames and vehicles inside, are loaded onto the transporting vehicle by compactly stacking the enclosures one atop the other in weather-exposed positions, the enclosures nevertheless serving to protect the vehicles from external hazards.

Abstract: A system for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles on a transporting vehicle, such as a ship or rail car, comprises supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles on each of a plurality of frames in vertically-spaced relation to each other and then inserting the respective frames and their supported vehicles matingly into respective enclosures. The enclosures, with their frames and vehicles inside, are loaded onto the transporting vehicle by compactly stacking the enclosures one atop the other in weather-exposed postions, the enclosures nevertheless serving to protect the vehicles from external hazards.

Abstract: A system for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles on a transporting vehicle, such as a ship or rail car, comprises supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles on each of a plurality of frames in vertically-spaced relation to each other and then inserting the respective frames and their supported vehicles matingly into respective enclosures. The enclosures, with their frames and vehicles inside, are loaded onto the transporting vehicle by compactly stacking the enclosures one atop the other in weather-exposed positions, the enclosures nevertheless serving to protect the vehicles from external hazards.

Abstract: A system for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles on a transporting vehicle, such as a ship or rail car, comprises supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles on each of a plurality of frames in vertically-spaced relation to each other and then inserting the respective frames and their supported vehicles matingly into respective enclosures. The enclosures, with their frames and vehicles inside, are loaded onto the transporting vehicle by compactly stacking the enclosures one atop the other in weather-exposed positions, the enclosures nevertheless serving to protect the vehicles from external hazards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for loading motor vehicles into an open-centered, light-weight sleeve which carries a plurality of the vehicles and is inserted into a standard cargo-carrying container. A sled, which is arranged to carry at least one vehicle, is movable on tracks which extend from outside of the sleeve across substantially its entire extent. Thus, vehicles can be driven onto the sled outside of the sleeve and then transported into the sleeve on the sled. Once in the sleeve a vehicle is raised by gantries which are located outside of the side walls of the sleeve. The gantries have lifting cylinders which releasably attach to cradle latches which are slidable on and attachable to tension members that are suspended from the sides of the sleeve. The cradle latches engage the ends of the cradles, which are carried in the sled 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.

Abstract: A loader includes a sleeve support which will carry in a raised position a lightweight open-centered sleeve, of the type which is capable of holding a plurality of automobiles. An automobile support, capable of carrying the automobiles which will comprise one level when loaded into the sleeve, is located below the sleeve. A lifting device moves the sleeve support and the automobile support together to insert the automobiles into the sleeve from its bottom. Latching mechanisms which attach the automobiles to the sleeve are movable between loading positions, where the automobiles can be inserted past them, and latching positions where they will engage the automobiles' tires. The loader is capable of removing the sleeves from cargo containers for loading and/or unloading and then placing them back into the containers when this procedure is completed. The apparatus also is capable of folding the sleeves to their collapsed position and of expanding them to their erected position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for loading motor vehicles into a standard cargo-carrying enclosure, such as a container or van, for transport therein. The vehicles are loaded onto a frame exterior of the enclosure so as to be supported thereby in multiple columns of vertically-spaced vehicles in end-to-end relation to one another. Thereafter the frame and vertically-spaced vehicles are inserted in unison matingly into the cargo-carrying enclosure for transport to a destination where the frame and vehicles are withdrawn from the enclosure for unloading purposes. Positioning of the vehicles on the frame prior to insertion into the container is accomplished by a powered gantry which successively detachably engages each of a plurality of different vehicle-support assemblies and lifts them and their associated vehicles separately relative to the frame into elevated positions where the support assemblies are retained against downward movement by locking to the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for loading motor vehicles into a standard cargo-carrying enclosure, such as a container or van, for transport therein. The vehicles are loaded onto a frame exterior of the enclosure so as to be supported therby in multiple columns of vertically-spaced vehicles in end-to-end relation to one another. Thereafter the frame and vertically-spaced vehicles are inserted in unison matingly into the cargo-carrying enclosure for transport to a destination where the frame and vehicles are withdrawn from the enclosure for unloading purposes. Positioning of the vehicles on the frame prior to insertion into the container is accmplished by a powered gantry which successively detachably engages each of a plurality of different vehicle-support assemblies and lifts them and their associated vehicles separately relative to the frame into elevated positions where the support assemblies are retained against downward movement by locking to the frame.