Importance

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Abstract

A locking mechanism is provided for a roll-off container hoist. The locking mechanism secures a roll-off container to the roll-off container hoist when the hoist is in a transport orientation and releases the roll-off container when the hoist is moved from the transport orientation toward a hoisting orientation. Also provided is a container hoist which includes such a locking mechanism, as well as a vehicle which carries a locking-mechanism-equipped container hoist. A method of using the container hoist likewise is provided. Preferably, the locking mechanism requires no springs or other resilient actuators and instead is freely actuated by gravity in one direction and by engagement with a preferably rigid actuating surface in an opposite direction. The locking mechanism includes a movable plate and a guide for the movable plate. The movable plate is freely movable through the guide, from a locking position to an unlocking position and vice versa. The mounting of the movable plate is so that when it is placed in the locking position, the movable plate projects out from the guide so as to restrain the container. By contrast, when the movable plate is placed in the unlocking position, the movable plate is withdrawn into the guide away from the container to thereby release the container. Preferably, mounting of the movable plate is performed so that the movable plate automatically moves into the locking position when the hoist is in the substantially horizontal transport orientation and automatically moves into the unlocking position when the container hoist is taken out of the transport orientation toward the inclined hoisting orientation. The movable plate preferably is pivotally mounted in the guide.

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First Claim