AU2015101128A4 - Apparatus and Method for Handling Timber Logs in the Transport and Ship Loading Process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is an attachment to a crane that can automatically fit the wire ropes around a bundle of logs on the quayside. The attachment can then be hoisted by the crane to the ship where the slings are released at one end, allowing the discharge of logs into the vessel. The attachment hoists clear of the vessel and the wire slings are retracted and then reconnected. Once in position for loading again, the slings will extend out to allow them to loop the log bundle prior to hoisting JAy V \ N \ N

Description

1 Title: Apparatus and Method for Handling Timber Logs in the Transport and Ship Loading Process Technical Field In the field of loading/unloading and transportation of timber logs to a ship Background Art Cut logs are transported from the forest to the port and loaded onto ships for transport overseas for further processing. At the port logs are loaded into a support frame to form a bundle. These bundles are loaded by a crane using wire slings or chains. To fit these slings around the bundle, stevedores manually loop the slings around the bundle of logs. This is a dangerous and expensive job. This system proposes an automated crane attachment to sling and hook the bundle of logs removing the need for manual intervention and thereby improving safety and reducing costs. Technical Problem Logs are generally transported to the port and loaded with cranes. The cranes are either shore based or Ship based. The Shore based cranes use grabs and do not require men at the quay side to attach the load. Ship-based cranes do not require investment but need men to sling and hook the loads which is a time consuming manual process using the cranes of the ship. Shore based cranes increase productivity but these add considerable cost to the stevedore. Further, not all shore-based cranes have the same reach as the ship-based version. Therefore, the preferred solution is the ship's cranes without the manual intervention. Other techniques for loading logs with ship based cranes such as grabs allow automated pick up but reduce the capacity of the crane as they are heavy and result in delays when loading. It is preferred to keep the slinging system for the efficient stowage in the hatch which allows gentle placement and fast efficient stowage.

2 It is the intention of this invention to provide a method for loading logs to a vessel's hold without the need for manual slinging of the load on the quayside of the port. The invention looks to keep all other advantageous effects of slinging the load. The advantageous effects of the invention are reduced cost as it allows handling of logs without the need for stevedores to manually sling the logs. The system is faster than the manual system and allows similar volumes of logs to be loaded per hour. The advantage of the system is it allows the stevedore to keep the beneficial aspects of the slinging process in hatch stowage. Summary of Invention. The invention is an attachment to a crane that can automatically fit the wire ropes around a bundle of logs on the quayside. The attachment can then be hoisted by the crane to the ship where the slings are released at one end, allowing the discharge of logs into the vessel. The attachment hoists clear of the vessel and the wire slings are retracted and then reconnected. Once in position for loading again, the slings will extend out to allow them to loop the log bundle prior to hoisting 3 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment The present invention relates to bulk log handling equipment for the timber industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to an attachment to a crane for the automated handling of logs for loading a ship. In one embodiment the log loader would attached to a crane hook which would allow hoisting by a crane. In one embodiment the log loader attachment is a frame capable of suspending a wire sling from under the attachment in such a way that either end is attached to opposite sides of the frame spreading wires to form a loop under the frame. It comprises a horizontal support frame for connection to the crane hook and allows for one or more vertically suspended wire loop(s) to be connected under the horizontal support structure. Cut logs are delivered to the ship from a storage yard and placed in a storage frame called a bunk at the quay side in a discrete bundle to allow them to be connected to the hook of the crane. In one embodiment the frame will be able to actuate one end of the suspended wire slings to manipulate them around the end of the bundle of logs so that the wire forms a complete loop under one end of the logs. Each end of the horizontal frame will have such an actuation device to allow them to be fitted to both ends of the log bundle. Looping the wire under the logs allows them to be lifted. In one embodiment an arm connected to one end of the wire loop will be actuated through an arc on the horizontal support structure. One end of the wire loop will remain fixed in place and the actuation of the arm around the arc in the horizontal support structure will allow the wire sling suspended from the arm to move around the perimeter of the end of the log bundle suspended in the bunk. Once a the arm has moved in the arc by 180 degrees the suspended wire will have moved around the logs to position the wire in a full loop around and under the log bundle. The wire will be in position to support the underside of the log bundle when the crane hoists the entire attachment.

4 In one embodiment the frame is capable of supporting the suspended wire loops and supporting a load of logs secured in the wire loop of the slings. The frame would have wire loops suspended from either end to support the logs at approximately equidistant positions from the midpoint of the logs to allow for a non-eccentric lift of the logs temporarily stored in the bunk. In one embodiment the horizontal support member will have female cut out sections to allow for fast docking to a vertical member on the bunk allowing for accurate positioning of the machine with respect to the bunk. In one embodiment the log loader will allow lifting of a bundle of logs from the bunk into the hatch of the ship supported by the wires suspended from the horizontal frame In one embodiment log loader will lower the log bundle into the hatch of the vessel and position the logs in their desired stowage location. The horizontal support frame will then unlock one end of the wire sling to allow the discharge of the logs into the hatch. By hoisting the attachment the slings will be pulled out from under the logs. In one embodiment the horizontal support frame will include a female locking member capable of supporting a load. The said member will be slotted and capable of rotation through 90 degrees. The male end of the wire sling will include a mushroom shaped head which engages through the slotted female member in the unlocked position Once the slot is rotated 90 degrees the male mushroom head is locked in position. In one embodiment the underside of the male head will be load bearing and when the slotted female member is rotated through 90 degrees the underside of the head and the top face of the female slotted member will support the load In one embodiment log loader will have winched capable of rewinding the slings retracting them into the horizontal support frame. The horizontal support frame will have its own power source and be capable of providing electrical and hydraulic control In one embodiment the horizontal support frame will have an actuation arm that connects to the male head of the sling and repositions the head of the sling from the retracted position at one side of the frame and describes a motion through 180 degrees perpendicular to the frame to transport the head of the sling to the other side of the frame. Once in position at the other 5 side of the frame the male head will be positioned into the female slotted member which can be rotated through 90 degrees to lock it in position. Description of the Drawings The invention will be described in the following with reference to the appended figures. These figures illustrate one log loader in accordance with an embodiment of the invention considered to be advantageous, yet not limiting the invention solely to the illustration of the figures. Figure 1 is a view of the log loader according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It shows a horizontal support frame connected to a crane hook. The frame has wire slings connected to the underside that form a loop under the frame with each end connected at opposite sides of the frame. There is a wire loop at each end of the frame capable of supporting a load on the slings Figure 2 shows the horizontal frame connected to a crane on the deck of a ship. The crane is between hatches and can lower the log loading attachment into the hatch of the vessel to load it with logs. Figure 3 is a view of a conventional log bunk that supports the logs to allow slinging of the wire ropes of a lifting attachment prior to loading into the hatch of the ship. Figure 4 is a view of the load loading frame lowered onto the bunk. The figure shows and end view of the slinging of the logs. Figure 5a, b & c show and isometric view of the log loader. Figure 5a shows the slings at the zero position and figures b & c show the actuation describing an arc around the outside perimeter of the logs that allows positioning of the slings under the logs Figure 6 shows the positioning of the logs in the hatch and the release of the slings to allow the logs to be loaded in the hatch. Figure 7 Shows the reconnection process by the actuation of an arm connected the male head of the sling describing an arc perpendicular to the horizontal frame from one side of the frame to the other.

6 Figure 8 shows the male mushroom head of the sling connected to the female slotted member in the locked position

Claims (11)

1. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an attachment to automatically sling a bundle of logs for loading by a crane

2. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an attachment to a crane that has an engagement means operative to engage and position wire rope to loop around of a bundle of logs

3. It is an object of this invention that the attachment would allow the looping at both ends of the log to allow symmetrical lifting from a central point

4. It is an object of this invention that the engagement means is an arm connected to one end of the loop of the wire sling that travels around the perimeter of the log bundle creating a loop of wire under the bundle.

5. It is another object of this invention that the crane attachment can telescope from a positon longer than the bundle of logs with the slings hanging below. In the process of retracting the frame of the crane attachment the slings would move to a position under the logs to allow symmetrical lifting

6. It is an object of this invention that the slings could be retracted to secure the load

7. It is an object of this invention that the slings would be released and one end to allow discharge of the logs into the hatch

8. It is an object of this invention that has an engagement means operative to engage the released end of the wire sling and move it a position to allow a third engagement means to connect to the end of the sling reengaging it back to a loop

9. It is an object of this invention that the wire end has a male head and a female receptor for connection and disengagement of the wire. The male head has a mushroom shaped end which can engage the female receptor which by rotation through 90 degrees can lock the head of the wire in position

10. In another object of the current invention that the horizontal frame could extend and retract the loop of the wire to allow it to fit around the bundle of logs positioning the sling to allow lifting

11. In another object of the invention the bunk could provide a gripping and actuation mechanism to allow positioning detached end of the sling from one side of the frame to the other reconnecting the loop.