Transporting heavy equipment

Abstract

An apparatus is provided and includes a support structure defining recesses for receiving lifting forks and a guide slot having first and second support sections and a platform having a deck configured to stably carry a load and a ramp configured to facilitate removal of the load from the deck. The platform includes a boss, which is movable within the guide slot such that the boss registers with the first support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a lowered position and the second support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a raised position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a support structure defining recesses for receiving lifting forks and a guide slot having first and second support sections; and   a platform having a deck configured to stably carry a load and a ramp configured to facilitate removal of the load from the deck,   the platform including a boss, which is movable within the guide slot such that the boss registers with:   the first support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a lowered position, and the second support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a raised position.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ramp extends toward a ground surface with the platform supportively disposable in the lowered position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the deck is cleared from a plane of the recesses with the platform supportively disposable in the raised position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises opposed sidewalls defining the recesses and the guide slot. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the support structure further comprises a lower deck to connect the opposed sidewalls together. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide slot is curved or substantially straight. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the boss is connectable with a jacking device configured to move the boss to and from at least the first and second support sections. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the jacking device comprises one of a manual jack and a pneumatic jack. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the jacking device comprises a lever. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the boss is urged to move to and from at least the first and second support sections by a jacking device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for transporting a load, the system comprising:
 a support structure defining recesses in a lower portion thereof for receiving lifting forks and a guide slot extending from the lower portion to an upper portion thereof and having first and second support sections associated with the lower and upper portions, respectively;   a platform having a deck configured to stably carry the load and a ramp configured to facilitate removal of the load from the deck, the platform including a boss, which is movable within the guide slot such that the boss registers with the first support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a lowered position, and the second support section whereby the platform is supportively disposable in a raised position; and   a jacking device to urge the boss to move to and from at least the first and second support sections.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the ramp extends toward a ground surface with the platform supportively disposable in the lowered position. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the deck is cleared from a plane of the recesses with the platform supportively disposable in the raised position. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the support structure comprises opposed sidewalls defining the recesses and the guide slot. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the support structure further comprises a lower deck to connect the opposed sidewalls together. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the guide slot is curved or substantially straight. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the boss is connectable with the jacking device. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the jacking device comprises one of a manual jack, a pneumatic jack and a lever. 
     
     
         19 . A method of loading and unloading a load, comprising:
 positioning a platform at a lowered position relative to a support structure for the platform and placing the load on the platform;   raising the platform toward a raised position relative to the support structure to clear recesses defined in the support structure;   inserting lifting elements into the recesses to lift, transport and lower the support structure, the platform and the load; and   removing the lifting elements from the recesses, lowering the platform toward the lowered position and removing the load from the platform.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the raising and lowering of the platform comprises raising and lowering the platform in a substantially vertical direction.