AU2003204046A1 - Handling apparatus for break bulk goods - Google Patents

Description

v i1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: HANDLING APPARATUS FOR BREAK BULK

GOODS

Applicant: HOBART PORTS CORPORATION PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 Document3 2 HANDLING APPARATUS FOR BREAK BULK GOODS This invention relates to an apparatus for handling break bulk goods. The apparatus is particularly suitable for loading and unloading goods in the marine port environment and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to this environment. It should be appreciated however that the apparatus may be suitable for use in other environments involved in handling break bulk goods.

The term break bulk goods is used in the transport industry to describe a type of cargo. Goods of this nature normally refer to divisible items such as sacks of grain, metal ingots, coiled steel, timber, etc. It is common for the goods to be transported in groups to reduce the handling costs.

Historically, break bulk goods have been loaded on to and off from ships using handling apparatus cargo nets and more recently lashed together using chains. It will be appreciated that loading and unloading cargo nets and lashing goods involves labour costs. Furthermore, handling apparatus concentrates the pressure on the goods in the vicinity of the chain or net. Where the goods are relatively soft, such as a sack of grain or timber, the goods may be damaged.

Where the goods are relatively hard, such as metal ingots or coiled steel, the chain may fail to stay secured to the goods. This is a particular problem when metal ingots are cast without an appropriate surface on the underside of the ingot to securely accommodate the chain.

An existing solution to the chain securing problem involves using a metal strap to bundle together a plurality of, for example, metal ingots and to lift the bundle by the strap. The current bundling straps on the market are designed with a life span of four lifts and thereafter they are to be discarded. It will be appreciated that handling the goods in this manner with disposable materials involves an additional materials cost over lashing the goods with chains.

W:\MaryOY\BF\Specibreak bulk stevedoring CAP-A.doc 3 It would be advantageous to provide apparatus for handling of break bulk goods which addressed labour and material costs associated with traditional handling apparatus.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided handling apparatus for facilitating handling of break bulk goods by a hoist, the apparatus including: a base having a platform for accommodating the goods thereon, the base having two or more opposed sides at opposed edges of the platform, a structure positionable adjacent the base being configured for securely and releasably engaging the opposed sides of the base, the structure having a plurality of lifting sites, the hoist being connectable to the structure via the lifting sites, wherein in use the goods are located on the platform, the hoist is used to move the structure relative to the base to a base secured position, in which position the structure securely engages the sides of the base so that thereafter the hoist can lift the structure, base and goods.

The structure is preferably a rigid frame having a pair of opposing side beams and a pair of opposing end beams rigidly connecting the side beams in a spaced relationship, the frame being positionable by the hoist so that the side beams securely engage the opposing sides of the base.

The structure preferably includes engaging means for securely and releasably engaging the opposed sides of the base, the engaging means including at least one pin moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, the base including at least one bore on at least one side thereof wherein in use when the structure is in the base secured position the pin engages the bore when in the extended position and is disengaged from the bore when in the retracted position to release the structure from the base.

It is preferred that the engaging means includes biasing means for biasing the pin towards the extended position. The pin is preferably configured to move towards the retracted position in response to the structure approaching W:WaryM~FXSpecbmrak bulk stevedorling CAP-A.doc 4 the base secured position, the biasing means storing the potential energy which is released when the structure reaches the base secure position.

It is further preferred that the configuration of the pin includes an angled strike surface at a distal end of the pin that strikes the opposed side of the base as the structure approaches the base secure position. The engaging means preferably includes an actuator for selectively moving the pin to the retracted position whilst the structure is in the base secure position to release the structure from the base. The actuator is preferably manually operable.

It is further preferred that the engaging means includes a locking means operable for locking the pin in the extended position. It is also preferred that the base includes opposed ends extending transverse to the sides, the sides and ends of the base are flanged from the platform, the structure having a similarly angled inner surface to facilitate locating the structure in the base secure position.

According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the structure includes a barrier extending from an upper surface thereof to restrict movement of the goods off the platform when the structure is in the base secure position.

It is preferred that the base includes a plurality of tine pockets for receiving forklift tines.

It is further preferred that the engaging means includes an actuator for selectively moving the pin between the extended and retracted positions.

Preferably the actuator is manually operable.

It will be appreciated that this apparatus reduces the labour costs associated with chain lashing and reduces the material costs associated with bundling break bulk goods with straps.

The invention will be hereinafter described in greater detail by reference to the attached drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. It is W:1MaryOBFlSpecibreak bulk stevedoring CAP-A.doc to be understood that the particularity of the drawings do not supersede the generality of the description of the invention as given in the previous paragraphs.

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation in schematic form of handling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation of the structure according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates a plan view of the structure according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to figure 1 there is illustrated in schematic form handling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The embodiment illustrates a base 1 or bolster providing a platform 2 for accommodating the goods 3 thereon. A structure 4 is positioned adjacent the bolster 1 in a base secure position. When in use the structure 4 releasably and securely engages the bolster 1. The process of securing the structure to the bolster will be discussed later in the specification. The structure 4 has a plurality of lifting sites 5 which in the illustrated embodiment are in the form of lifting lugs 5 located on an upper surface of the structure 4 adjacent the structure's edge.

This location is not essential as, for example, the lugs 5 may be located on the outer sides of the structure.

The lugs 5 are engaged by shackles 6 positioned at the ends of a lifting sling 7 or slings whereby the sling or each sling 7 is connected to a cable 8 which is controlled by a hoist (not shown). The position of the lifting sling 6 relative to the goods 2 may be spaced by using a spreader bar 9 which in the illustrated embodiment is connected to the slings 6. It is perceivable that the W:WaryOvBFNSpei~brak bulk stevedoring CAP-A.doc 6 spreader bar 9 may be in another location, or its function achieved by an alternate element.

The structure 4 illustrated in figure 1 also includes a barrier 10 which in the illustration has the barrier screen removed to show the break bulk goods 3.

The function of the barrier 10 is to restrict the movement of goods relative to the platform 2, particularly when the base is being lifted by the hoist. The barrier screen preferably extends between the barrier frame 11 and the structure 4.

The surfaces of the opposed ends of the base 1 and the facing surface of the structure 4, as shown by the dashed line in figure 1, are angled at an acute angle to facilitate locating the structure over the base 1. The surfaces of the opposed sides and the facing surface of the structure 4 are also angled, as can be seen in figure 4.

Referring now to figure 2 there is illustrated a side elevation of the bolster 1 with the goods removed from the platform 2. The bolster 1 illustrated includes two pairs of tine pockets 12, 13 to receive the tines of forklifts (not shown). The two pair of pockets 12, 13 permit the bolster 1 to be lifted by a forklift having tines at different spacings and more particularly forklift trucks of differing sizes.

It is intended that the bolster 1, when either loaded or unloaded with goods 3, will be manipulated about the wharf or within the hull of a ship using a forklift.

When the bolster is being manipulated within the hull, where space can become limited, a relatively small forklift truck may be required. Whilst loading and unloading relative to the ship will be achieved using the hoist.

Figure 2 also illustrates a bore 14 located above the wider of the two tine pockets 13. This bore 14 is for receiving a pin 15 of an engaging means, the operation of which is best illustrated with reference to figures 3 and 4.

Referring now to figure 3 there is illustrated a side elevation of the structure 4 with the barrier element 10 removed. The structure 4 illustrates the engaging means 21 having a pair of pins 15 for location within the bores 14 of the bolster 1. The engaging means 21 also includes an actuator in the form of a W:WaryOlBFlSpecibreak bulk stevedoring CAP-A.doc 7 handle 20, for manually retracting the pin 15. The operation of the engaging means 21 is best described relative to figure 4.

Referring now to figure 4 the structure 4 illustrated includes a pair of side beams 16, 17 and a pair of end beams 18, 19 forming a relatively rigid frame. In regard to the operation of the engaging means 21, the pins 15 are illustrated in the retracted position. The actuation means illustrated includes the handle 20 to facilitate movement of the pin 15 between the extended and retracted positions.

Rotation of the handle 20 through 1800 will cause the pin 15 to move towards the extended position, and thereby engage the bore 14 in the bolster 1.

The illustration in figure 4 of the engaging means 21 also includes a spring bias 22 for biasing the pin 15 towards the extended position. A striking surface 23 of each pin 15 may be angled to facilitate retraction of the pin as the structure approaches the base secure position. Other means for extending and retracting the pin 15 may be possible.

When the apparatus is in use the base 1 will be loaded with the break bulk goods by any suitable process. Thereafter a forklift truck can manipulate the base about the wharf to a hoisting location. When in the hoist position the structure 4 will be positioned adjacent the base 1 in a base secure position as shown in figure 1. The pins 15 will be either manually adjusted by the operator rotating the handle 20 or automatically adjusted under the influence of the biasing means 23 to position within the respective bores 14. Through operation of the hoist the structure 4 and base 1 and goods 3 will be lifted into the hull of the ship. The structure 4 is then detached from the base 1 by the manual retraction of the pins 15. The base 1 with the goods can then be manipulated by a smaller forklift to a location in the hull.

It will be appreciated that handling apparatus as herein before described reduces labour and material costs associated with handling break bulk goods.

bulk stevedoring CAP-Adoc Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

W:WaO0BFSped~break bulk stevedofing CAP-Adoc

Claims (14)

1. Handling apparatus for facilitating handling of break bulk goods by a hoist, the apparatus including: a base having a platform for accommodating the goods thereon, the base having two or more opposed sides at opposed edges of the platform, a structure positionable adjacent the base being configured for securely and releasably engaging the opposed sides of the base, the structure having a plurality of lifting sites, the hoist being connectable to the structure via the lifting sites, wherein in use the goods are located on the platform, the hoist is used to move the structure relative to the base to a base secured position, in which position the structure securely engages the sides of the base so that thereafter the hoist can lift the structure, base and goods.

2. Handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the structure is a rigid frame having a pair of opposing side beams and a pair of opposing end beams rigidly connecting the side beams in a spaced relationship, the frame being positionable by the hoist so that the side beams securely engage the opposing sides of the base.

3. Handling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure includes engaging means for securely and releasably engaging the opposed sides of the base, the engaging means including at least one pin moveable between an extended position and a retracted position, the base including at least one bore on at least one side thereof wherein in use when the structure is in the base secured position the pin engages the bore when in the extended position and is disengaged from the bore when in the retracted position to release the structure from the base.

4. Handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the engaging means includes biasing means for biasing the pin towards the extended position.

WWarwyOXBFRSpedkbreak bulk~ stovedoring CAP-Adoc a Handling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pin is configured to move towards the retracted position in response to the structure approaching the base secured position, the biasing means storing the potential energy which is released when the structure reaches the base secure position.

6. Handling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the configuration of the pin includes an angled strike surface at a distal end of the pin that strikes the opposed side of the base as the structure approaches the base secure position.

7. Handling apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the engaging means includes an actuator for selectively moving the pin to the retracted position whilst the structure is in the base secure position to release the structure from the base.

8. Handling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the actuator is manually operable.

9. Handling apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the engaging means includes a locking means operable for locking the pin in the extended position.

Handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes opposed ends extending transverse to the sides, the sides and ends of the base are flanged from the platform, the structure having a similarly angled inner surface to facilitate locating the structure in the base secure position.

11. Handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structure includes a barrier extending from an upper surface thereof to restrict movement of the goods off the platform when the structure is in the base secure position.

12. Handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes a plurality of tine pockets for receiving forklift tines. W:VaryO\BF\Specilbreak bulk stevedorng CAP-A.doc

13. Handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the engaging means includes an actuator for selectively moving the pin between the extended and retracted positions.

14. Handling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the actuator is manually operable. Handling apparatus substantially as herein before described with reference to the illustrations. DATED: 6 May 2003 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: HOBART PORTS CORPORATION PTY LTD. W:WaryO\BFRSpeC~break bulk stevedoring CAP-Adoc