CN1373719A - Container Handling Gear or Spreader - Google Patents

Abstract

A container handling apparatus or cradle (10) is disclosed which includes a main frame (11) adapted to move laterally from one side of and above a container (C). The main frame is lifted and lowered by means of a push bar (19), thereby lifting and lowering a container suspended from the main frame. Wheels (21) forming part of the apparatus or cradle and being provided at the lower end of the push bar, the wheels being arranged to be moved around, the apparatus or cradle further including elements (22) for engaging the tines of a fork lift truck to also allow the apparatus or cradle to be moved around.

Description

Container Handling Gear or Spreader

Technical field

The present invention relates to a container handling device or hanger, more particularly relates to a kind of device or hanger that is suitable for being connected with the transport container, utilizes this device or hanger to be able to be in the transport wharf, railway transfer station and /or the factory transfers the container to or unloads from the trailer (pallet) of the truck.

Background technique

Manipulation of the container is usually accomplished by means of a forklift, side lift, motorized crane or some auxiliary device installed on site or carried by the container, such as portable lifting devices in the form of clamps and jacks.

Forklifts are very expensive pieces of equipment that are usually only available in well-equipped locations and are not necessarily required in many locations where containers are loaded and unloaded from pallets or trailers of vehicles/trucks. Side lifts are also only available in well-equipped locations and due to the way they operate require a space equal to three times the width of the container. On the other hand, mobile cranes are also expensive equipment and are usually only available in places where large numbers of containers are handled, such as shipping docks.

A portable lifting device has been proposed as an alternative to lift trucks, side lifts and motorized cranes and is disclosed in International Patent Application WO 92/19527. However, when the container is supported by many individual jacks at each corner of the container, the weight of a fully loaded container with such a lifting device can lead to instability, therefore, this lifting device does not solve the problem of lifting and lowering completely satisfactorily. There are problems in handling the container, and on the other hand, the lifting device also requires the use of a lift truck to position the lifting device in order to attach the lifting device to the container.

Other known lifting devices utilize a rigid chassis with multiple lifting jacks, some examples of which are disclosed in US Patent Publications US3460697, US4053073, US3520433, US4522550, US3152709. However, none of these published patents provides a container handling system suitable for moving the container, especially once the container is lifted, in order to load the container on the vehicle. Containers are moved. Enabling containers to move small distances is a particularly important problem, but none of the existing devices and systems for handling containers available in the prior art have solved this problem. Furthermore, none of the existing handling devices and systems can be attached to the top of the container so that a single container handling system or spreader can be used on multiple containers. Such handling devices and systems can be mounted to containers using overhead cranes, eliminating the need to utilize forklifts or other types of mobile cranes.

Therefore, at present, some of the problems encountered in the loading and unloading of containers on pallets or wagons can be satisfactorily solved only in very well-equipped locations using very advanced and expensive precision equipment. Furthermore, the handling of the containers to move small distances is only possible with the same equipment used to load and unload the containers.

Contents of the invention

The present invention contemplates a container handling device or hanger comprising: a main frame adapted to move laterally from one side of the container and above said container; for raising and lowering said main frame means for raising and lowering the container suspended from the main frame; means for engaging the top and/or bottom of said container to connect said container to said frame. Preferably, these devices are arranged to allow the unit or hanger to be moved around.

Alternatively, a forklift or the like may be used to move the unit or hanger around and the unit or hanger further includes means for engaging the tines of the forklift.

Description of drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device or hanger in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device or hanger shown in the figure carrying a shipping container;

Figure 2 is a side view of the device or hanger in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device or hanger of Figs. 1 and 2 with a shipping container not aligned with the pallet of the truck;

Figure 4 is an end view similar to Figure 3, shown adjusted to align the shipping container with the pallet of the truck.

Detailed ways

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said device, hereafter referred to as a container spreader 10, is adapted to be clamped on a transport container C. As shown in FIG. The hanger 10 has a main frame, indicated generally by reference numeral 11, and includes trapezoidal end frames 12 each having an upwardly inclined frame element 12a, a vertical frame element 12b, As well as an upper horizontal frame element 12c and a lower horizontal frame element 12d.

The lower horizontal frame element 12d is a trough-shaped part through which is a close-fitting push-rod support beam 30 on which the main frame 11 as a whole can be moved laterally within the hanger , the way of moving will be described later. The main frame is formed by connecting the longitudinally extending beams 13 to the end frames by means of short tubes 18 which can be of different sizes and are interchangeable to accommodate containers of different lengths. The beam 13 is made up of two parallel longitudinally extending top beams 13a and a single longitudinally extending bottom beam 13b on one side of the main frame, so that the bottom of the other side of the main frame is open, so that the main frame can be Move sideways over container C. Locating pins 14 and locking arrangements 14a at the top and bottom of the main frame engage holes in the container, while on the opposite side of the main frame locking device posts 15 extend downwards from under the end frames 12 and are held together by connecting brackets 16. They are connected with locking device posts. The column 15 also receives a locking device 17 which is movable laterally along the main frame to engage in a hole in the bottom end of the container at the open side of the main frame.

A telescoping pushrod 19 is carried on each end of the pushrod support beam 30 and on each of the four corners of the hanger. The cylinder 19a of the pushrod 19 extends upwardly from the end of the beam 12, and the pushrod piston 19b extends downwardly from the end of the beam. In this embodiment, the lower end of the push rod piston has a yoke 20 with a grounding wheel 21 . The telescopic push rod can be installed in the box part of the hollow square section around the push rod, and when the push rod is extended or retracted, the telescopic push rod can also relatively slide inside. Although not shown in the drawings, these box components add to the stiffness and strength of the container hanger as it bears the weight of the shipping container and is supported only on the push rods and the telescoping box around them . In addition, the yoke 20 is rotatable about the vertical axis of the piston to steer the orientation of the hanger as it rolls around a site, whether or not a container is supported on the hanger. The hanger can be rolled around on the wheel 21 manually, and the direction of the wheel can be controlled. Alternatively, the hanger can be towed with a forklift or similar equipment. In another embodiment, it is even possible to mount motors to the wheels, so that the wheels are self-propelled, and also provide a steering mechanism controlled by the operator, so that during the maneuvering of said device or cradle, the steering mechanism controls all The movement of the device or hanger so that the device or hanger can be controlled by itself.

In the middle of the length of the top beam 13 along the longitudinal extension of the main frame, a pair of elongated tubular elongated forklift tine receiving elements 22 extending in parallel are arranged, and extend between the top beams, and also receive the forks of the lift truck F Teeth (tines) T, as shown in Figure 1. The position of the tine receiving elements 22 relative to each other can be adjusted as desired to accommodate different tine spacings, depending on the lift truck used, so that the hanger can be handled with or without a container supported thereon. The tine receiving elements 22 also help keep the spreader in balance during operation, whether or not a container is supported on the spreader, and also provide a large surface area for engaging the tines.

The loaded or unloaded spreader can be moved around on wheels as described above, or, if there is a forklift F on site, it can be maneuvered by the forklift F, or, by a combination of both , or, in another embodiment, when the push rod has no grounding wheels, but only a grounded base plate, maneuvering can be accomplished using only any available lift truck. Axially adjustable screw attachments can be used to attach the wheels or base plate to the lower end of the push rod so that the height of the hanger can be adjusted at each corner as needed as ground conditions change.

Referring to Fig. 2, when the container C is unloaded from the truck pallet TT, the push rod is extended so that the hanger can roll on the top of the container on the truck pallet, or be positioned on the top of the container by a forklift F. The push rod of the forklift then lowers the spreader to the top of the container and engages the dowel 14a and locking devices 14b and 17 with the container. The twist lock (not shown) engages the locking lug TTa carried by the truck pallet, and then the push rod is extended again to lift the container off the truck pallet. The hanger supporting the container is moved laterally relative to the truck pallet, or the wagon can be removed from under the container, in the case where the hanger is not mounted on wheels but only on a grounded base plate, the wagon is It must be possible to remove from under the container. Once the container has been lifted from the truck pallet and subsequently removed from the truck pallet, the container can be lowered to the ground by retracting the push rod 19 at this time.

In order to load container C onto the truck pallet TT, reverse the sequence of steps described above for unloading the container, adding a step to the steps performed when the container is not properly aligned with the truck pallet, now refer to Fig. 3 and 4 to describe this step. To deal with this misalignment, a horizontally oriented hydraulic push rod 31 is connected between the push rod support beam 30 and the vertical frame member 12b of the end frame 12, and can be extended and retracted to move along the push rod. The length direction of the rod support beam changes the position of the main frame. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it is evident in Figure 3 that the container C is laterally out of alignment with the truck pallet, in which case horizontally oriented push rods 31 are extended to change the position of the main frame laterally , so that the overall position of the container in the hanger is moved to the position shown in Figure 4, and in the position shown in Figure 4, the container is aligned with the truck pallet, so that the container can be correctly placed on the truck pallet. As an alternative, as mentioned earlier, in the case that the wheels 21 can be steered and possibly equipped with an engine, the wheels can be turned 90 degrees to the length of the container, rolling or driving the hanger, so that the container is towed with the truck. disk alignment.

When it is necessary to move the hanger from one place to another in order to use the same or different containers in different places, the hanger can be combined in structure so that when the container is transported from one place by truck When going to another location, the parts of the spreader can be disassembled and carried on top of the container, or the assembled parts can be transported separately on different trucks. Alternatively, the connection between the different parts of the hanger, including the connection between the parts of the main frame 11, and the connection between the hydraulic lifting push rod 19 and the push rod support beam 12, may be an articulated connection, with suitable locking The device, whereby the hanger can be folded into a generally flat state for easy transport, rather than the hanger being disassembled.

The hydraulic pressure of the hanger can be provided by the on-board power unit P, or an external power unit delivered to the site, or an existing external power unit at the site. It will be appreciated that for most loaded containers a standard lift truck with a lifting capacity of 3 tons or more will suffice if a lift truck is required.

The hanger in the preferred embodiment of the invention, when not used for loading, unloading or manipulating containers, can also be used for other purposes, for example for mobile working platforms, since the hanger can be lifted 1800mm above ground level, It can therefore also be used for the management and maintenance of equipment and machinery, eg for repairing the underside of containers.

Claims (11)

1, a kind of container handling apparatus or suspension bracket comprise: main frame, be suitable for from a side of freight container and above said freight container along shifted laterally; Be used to promote and fall said main frame so that the equipment that the freight container that is hung is promoted and descends; Be used for engaging so that said freight container is connected to equipment on the said framework with said container top and/or bottom.

2, container handling apparatus according to claim 1 or suspension bracket, wherein said equipment are configured to allow said device or suspension bracket to move everywhere.

3, container handling apparatus according to claim 2 or suspension bracket, the equipment that wherein allows said device or suspension bracket to move everywhere is ground engaging stabiliser wheel, these ground engaging stabiliser wheels constitute the part of said device or suspension bracket.

4, container handling apparatus according to claim 1 or suspension bracket, wherein said device or suspension bracket comprise and are used for engaging so that the equipment that allows said device or suspension bracket to move everywhere with the prong of fork lift truck.

5, container handling apparatus according to claim 1 or suspension bracket, the wheel that wherein constitutes a said device or a suspension bracket part is configured to and can moves everywhere, and said device or suspension bracket also comprise and be used for engaging so that the equipment that allows said device or suspension bracket to move everywhere with the prong of fork lift truck.

6, according to claim 3 or 5 described container handling apparatus or suspension brackets, wherein said the wheel by said lifting and the equipment of falling said main frame carried.

7, according to described container handling apparatus of aforementioned arbitrary claim or suspension bracket, the wherein said equipment that is used to promote and falls said main frame is by the entrained push rod of said main frame.

8, according to described container handling apparatus of aforementioned arbitrary claim or suspension bracket, wherein be used to promote and fall the equipment of said main frame, at least the side at said device or suspension bracket is installed on the equipment that is connected with said device or suspension bracket, allowing said device or suspension bracket to move with respect to this equipment, and this equipment is configured to allow carry out said relatively moving.

9, according to described container handling apparatus of aforementioned arbitrary claim or suspension bracket, when being subordinated to claim 3, wherein said the wheel is self-driven.

10, the said steering hardware that provides by operator's control of taking turns wherein is provided for container handling apparatus according to claim 9 or suspension bracket, so as during said device or suspension bracket are handled, to carry out controlling party to.

11, roughly with reference to described container handling apparatus of earlier drawings or suspension bracket.

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