EA041993B1 - CONTAINER CONTROL DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR BOTTOM UNLOADING CONTAINER - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to handling equipment, namely to container control devices, such as spreaders, and is intended for capturing, holding and moving containers, as well as unloading containers carrying bulk cargo, in particular, containers with bottom unloading (down unloading).

State of the art

Known devices for capturing and moving containers, including large containers ISO, called spreaders. Spreaders may provide for additional operations such as opening the lid (hatch) of the container to access its contents and unloading the container by flipping it around a horizontal axis running essentially parallel to the long side of the container, or by tilting the container.

Thus, WO 2013006141 describes a spreader that captures and moves a container, additionally containing a top lid lid engagement device, which in turn includes twistlocks and twistlock vertical movement mechanisms. The twistlocks engage with the protrusions on the lid located on top of the container, and subsequent vertical movement of the twistlocks to the top position allows the lid to be lifted. This spreader does not flip the container; this function is performed by another device, or the container is unloaded by capturing its contents by another, additional device. Obviously, the unloading speed of such a container is low, and in addition, it requires the use of additional devices and, accordingly, additional space.

From the applications AU 2017201522, WO 2017196260, spreaders are known, which, in addition to capturing and lifting the lid located on top of the container, also carry out the overturning of the container, which speeds up the unloading of the container. To do this, the known spreaders contain mechanisms for rotating the container around a horizontal axis, essentially parallel to the long side of the container. Such a spreader speeds up the unloading of the container and does not require the use of additional devices or manual operations.

From patent RU 2667206, a spreader is known that, in addition to capturing and holding a container, unloads it by tilting the container around a horizontal axis, essentially parallel to the short side of the container, and dumping the cargo through a hatch (door) located at the end of the container. In well-known spreaders of this type, the operation of unlocking and locking the hatch (door) is not implemented by spreader mechanisms, but is performed manually, which slows down the speed of work.

Known technical solutions used for unloading and implemented in known spreaders, including those listed above, have the following significant disadvantages.

First of all, increased requirements are imposed on the rigidity and strength of the spreader structure, and its design becomes more complicated, since additional reinforcing elements and elements for holding the container in a partially or fully rotated (tilted) state are required. The use of container gripping and holding mechanisms (twistlocks) standard for the container industry is also not obvious, since all of them are designed for loads along the longitudinal axis of the twistlock and do not provide for bending (breaking) loads.

There are also increased requirements for the rigidity and strength of the container structure. The requirements of the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) (Geneva, December 2, 1972) and the corresponding ISO standards do not contain standards, as well as test methods for loading the fittings and the frame (body) of the container for its tilt or overturn. This may lead to the need for time-consuming and time-consuming development and approval of such standards and test methods or, in their absence, restrictions on the use of such containers.

Also, there are no universal spreaders that could be used for serviced containers of different sizes and different positions of the container load centers. When changing the height of the container and/or switching to cargo with a different bulk density and, accordingly, the center of mass in the container, it is often necessary to manufacture and use a different spreader.

Another disadvantage of these well-known spreaders is their limited functionality when working with new containers, unloading from the bottom, and not through the top cover or hatch (door) at the end. An example of such a new container is a container according to RF patent RU 2673991. Its feature is the placement of openable and fixed hatches (shutters) in the lower part of the container body for unloading cargo down, or bottom unloading. Using known spreaders, unlocking, opening, closing and blocking the flaps located at the bottom of the container will require either the use of additional equipment, or, more likely at the moment, the use of labor, which entails known difficulties.

Thus, there is a task to create a spreader capable of controlling the said containers with bottom discharge, allowing not only to capture, hold and move containers with bottom discharge, but also to control the hatches of such containers, namely, to provide unlocking, opening, closing and blocking hatches. In this sense, the spreader according to the present invention can also be called a container control device, since it provides additional functions that are not usually found in prior art spreaders. As part of

- 1 041993 of this application, the concepts of "spreader" and "container control device" should be considered as equivalent.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

The present invention is aimed at eliminating the shortcomings of known spreaders and creating a container control device that allows you to grab, hold and move containers, as well as control the hatches (shutters) of containers with bottom unloading, including in a fully automatic mode, using only the mechanisms of such a device, referred to hereinafter also a spreader.

The claimed spreader performs at least the following main functions:

gripping and holding any container, including a standard ISO container, for example, a 20-foot dimension, for its movement;

control of hatches (shutters) of containers with bottom unloading.

In general, the following operations can be carried out with the hatches of a container with bottom unloading: unlocking, opening, closing, blocking the hatches. Hatches are driven by rods; one end of the rods is fixed on the hatch, and the second end of the rods is brought out, preferably, in the upper part of the container and can be connected to the actuator on the spreader through a suitable connecting element (in particular, a standard container fitting) to perform these operations.

These functions can be performed by the declared spreader when changing the height of the container, the size and shape of hatches, the characteristics of the cargo, the distribution of cargo in the container, etc. in a wide range.

To unlock, open, close and block the hatches, they are moved by acting on the rods. In this case, the amount of movement of the rods can be significant and exceed 1.7 m. With the well-known approach, i.e. when the actuators are arranged vertically along the sides of the spreader, the spreader will be quite high, up to 2 meters or more in height, which is undesirable for many reasons.

Thus, another problem solved by the present invention is to ensure the compactness of the design of the proposed spreader, primarily in its height.

Finally, another possibility provided in the design of the claimed spreader is the possibility of operating two spreaders simultaneously by hanging them on a special traverse, which will double the productivity. The design of the spreader does not prevent this in any way due to the layout of its structural elements and the appropriate selection of structural elements used in the claimed spreader.

The technical results of the present invention are the expansion of the arsenal of technical means used for capturing, holding and moving containers, as well as managing containers for their unloading, providing the possibility of unloading containers with bottom unloading, automating, simplifying and accelerating the process of unloading such containers.

The tasks set are solved, and the declared technical results are achieved in a container control device, or a spreader, containing a frame with standard container engagement means installed on it, for example, twistlocks used to capture and hold the container, a power drive, a movable engagement mechanism with additional engagement means, and force transmission means connecting the power drive and the movable engagement mechanism. The power drive and force transmission means can be placed substantially along the long sides of the frame, and the movable engagement mechanism is placed essentially on the short sides of the frame. At the same time, the power drive is configured to give the movable engagement mechanism a reciprocating motion mainly in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame, i.e. in the vertical direction, including going beyond the dimensions (contour, bottom plane of the frame) of the spreader.

The claimed container control device can be used with any known containers and is intended, among other things, for automated control of a container with bottom discharge, in particular, known from the RF patent RU 2673991.

In terms of holding and moving the container, the spreader does not differ from most analogues and includes a power frame with twistlocks placed on it, means of their power drive (hydraulic or electric), as well as an appropriate control, signaling and communication device with the operator.

In terms of container hatch control, the spreader is primarily equipped with a special container hatch control device for gripping and holding the hatch control rods. This device - a movable engagement mechanism - contains an additional engagement mechanism (for example, a twistlock) for connecting with the rods of the container hatches and can move relative to the spreader in a plane parallel to the end walls of the container, to a distance exceeding the height of the spreader, for which the movable engagement mechanism through a flexible power connection (cable, chain) is attached to the power drive.

The power drive can be made as an electric motor and a hydraulic drive, if necessary - with re

- 2 041993 ductor. The power drive can be located directly above the movable engagement mechanism in the end frame of the spreader or in the middle of the spreader. Preferably, the power drive is connected through a force-transmitting device (for example, a rotary block) to a linear power mechanism (for example, a hydraulic cylinder) located closer to the middle of the spreader, the force from which is transmitted to a cable (or chain) connected to a movable engagement mechanism.

Through the use of force transfer means that convert the reciprocating motion from the power drive predominantly in the horizontal plane (frame plane, parallel to the long side of the container) into the reciprocating motion of the movable engagement mechanism predominantly in the vertical plane (perpendicular to the plane of the frame, perpendicular to the long side of the container ), it was possible to achieve a small height of the declared spreader, and also to ensure the transmission of the force required to control the hatches of a container with bottom unloading, including when the hatches are under high load, without additional devices. The additional provision of the spreader with a power drive, means of transmitting force and a movable engagement mechanism, obviously, makes it possible to fully automate the process of controlling a container with bottom unloading, eliminate the need for labor and, as a result, speed up the process of unloading such a container.

The tasks are solved, and the claimed technical results are also achieved in the preferred versions of the container control device, according to which the spreader contains fittings placed on the frame for installing or hanging the spreader on crane equipment, directly or through an intermediate frame (traverse);

the power drive is a hydraulic drive and includes at least one hydraulic cylinder, while the hydraulic drive can be located essentially in the middle part of the frame;

the spreader further comprises a control unit for controlling a power drive and/or twistlocks for installation in container fittings;

the control unit contains a pressure generating device for the hydraulic drive. Alternatively, the control unit may comprise means for supplying pressure for hydraulic actuation, for example from crane equipment;

the force transmission means may be a cable-block mechanism, and it is preferable if the cable-block mechanism contains a chain hoist;

the movable engagement mechanism comprises a swivel mechanism, and the additional engagement means is a twistlock engaging with the counterpart of the container.

Further, the invention and its advantages over known analogues will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief description of the figures

In FIG. 1 shows a container control device according to the invention.

In FIG. 2 shows a container control device according to the invention with the movable engagement mechanism extended.

In FIG. 3 schematically shows the installation of the container control device on the container.

In FIG. 4 shows a container control device mounted on a container.

In FIG. 5 schematically shows the control of container hatches using a container control device.

Implementation of the invention

The claimed container control device, or spreader 1, is shown schematically in FIG. 1, 2 and includes a frame 2 with twistlocks 3 mounted on it, a power drive 4, a movable engagement mechanism 5 and force transmission means connecting the power drive 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5.

As in known spreaders and other means of moving containers, the twistlocks 3 serve to engage and hold the container 6 by entering the corresponding container fittings 7 placed on the top of the container 6 (FIG. 3). For the convenience of combining the twistlocks 3 with the fittings 7 of the container, guides (not shown in the figures) can be additionally installed on the frame 2.

The power drive 4 is designed to move the movable engagement mechanism 5 and, accordingly, control the hatches of the container 6, as will be described later. The actuator 4 may be any known actuator, such as electric, magnetic, hydraulic, and the like. Considering the high demands placed on container control devices, such as power and reliability, the power drive 4 is preferably made in the form of a hydraulic drive. In this case, the power drive 4 may include one or more hydraulic cylinders, depending on the power that it must provide, as well as the overall dimensions of the containers controlled by the declared spreader 1.

Preferably, the actuator 4 is located substantially along (parallel or close to parallel) the long sides of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, 2, and, respectively, along the long sides of the container 1, or horizontally. Firstly, it provides a compact design of the claimed container control device. Secondly, such an arrangement of power

- 3 041993 drive 4 allows you to make it larger than if the power drive 4 is located, for example, vertically on the end sides of the spreader 1. And the large size of the power drive 4 means more power that it can provide, which also increases its reliability . In addition, it is expedient to place the actuator 4 substantially in the middle part of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, 2 in order to provide a better balance of the spreader 1 and sufficient space for the force transfer means to be placed on the frame 2.

The movable engagement mechanism 5 is designed to engage with the corresponding hatch control means controlling the position of the hatches 8 of the container 6 (FIG. 5). To do this, the movable engagement mechanism 5 may include, for example, an additional twistlock 9 and, preferably, a rotary mechanism 10 (Fig. 2) for turning said additional twistlock 9, when the additional twistlock 9 is aligned with the hatch controls 8 for mutual fixation of the additional twistlock 9 with the specified hatch controls 8.

Said control means for hatches 8 can be rods 11, the first ends of which are connected to the corresponding hatch 8, and the second ends are engaged with the movable engagement mechanism 5. Such engagement can be carried out, for example, by means of an additional twistlock 9 and a mating fitting (not shown in the figures) located at the indicated second ends of the rods 11.

The movable engagement mechanism 5 is located on the short, or end, sides of the frame 2. This allows it to be placed as close as possible to the hatch controls of the container 6.

Since the directions of movement of the actuator 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5 are substantially mutually perpendicular, the force transfer means connecting the actuator 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5 must be capable of changing the direction of force application. For this, the force transmission means can be made by any method known to a specialist, for example, they can be a cable-block mechanism.

For the example in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the means of transmitting force in the form of a cable and block mechanism, including at least cables 12 (or chains, or other suitable means) and roller mechanisms 13 (or blocks). The cables 12 are connected with one of their ends to the power drive 4, and the other - to the movable engagement mechanism 5, and the roller mechanisms 13 are used for the specified change in the direction of movement. Additionally, especially for working with a large, heavily loaded container 6, the cable-block mechanism may also contain a chain hoist (not shown in the figures), which allows either to increase the transmitted force, or, preferably, to increase the stroke of the movable engagement mechanism 5 (when using the reverse chain hoist).

Thus, according to the invention, the movable engagement mechanism 5 essentially moves in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame 2, engages with the mating hatch controls and transmits the force from the actuator 4 to the hatches 8 of the container 6. For ease of presentation, in FIG. 2, the movable engagement mechanism 5 is shown in the extended position, going beyond the bottom plane of the frame 2. This position of the movable engagement mechanism 5 can correspond to the maximum opening of the hatches 8. It is clear that the movable engagement mechanism 5 can also rise above the bottom plane of the frame 2, as shown in fig. 1, for example, when closing hatches 8.

In addition, the force transfer means can transfer from the power drive 4 not only the reciprocating motion to the movable engagement mechanism 5, but also the force to the rotary mechanism 10 in order to provide rotational motion of the additional twistlock 9 for its engagement with the mating fitting at the second ends of the rods 11. Alternatively, the swivel mechanism 10 can itself be a drive that provides the rotational movement of the twistlock 9. In any case, this allows you to fully automate the process of controlling the hatches 8 of the container 6.

The frame 2 can additionally accommodate a control unit 14 for the power drive 4, as well as the drives of the twistlocks 3 for capturing and holding the container 6. In particular, if the power drive 4 is electric or magnetic, the control unit 14 can be an electric generator or, for example, a switchboard which is supplied with power from outside. If the power drive 4 is hydraulic, the control unit 14 may comprise a device for pressurizing the hydraulic drive, or simply contain means for supplying pressure for the hydraulic drive from outside, for example, from an external compressor. In addition, the actual control unit 14 or other additional device may contain electronic control systems, diagnostics, control of the spreader 1, communication with the operator or other external equipment.

Like the actuator 4, it is preferred that the means of transmitting the force be arranged substantially along (parallel or close to parallel) the long sides of the frame 2 and, accordingly, along the long sides of the container 6, or horizontally. This ensures the compactness of the spreader 1, and also allows you to transfer more power (force) to the hatches 8 and ensures the reliability of the claimed container control device.

The claimed container control device is suspended by any known method directly on a crane or other known device for lifting and moving goods, for example, behind

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Claims (8)

additional twistlocks 15. The claimed container control device operates as follows. The spreader 1 is hung (installed) on a crane or other known device for lifting and moving goods, for example, behind the frame 2 or additional twistlocks 15. Next, the spreader 1 is moved to the container 6 (Fig. 3) and lowered onto the container 6 (Fig. 4). The twistlocks 3 engage with the fittings 7 of the upper part of the container 6, and their engagement is fixed, for example, by turning the twistlocks 3 by means of the turning mechanism 10. After the specified fixation of the engagement of twistlocks 3 with fittings 7, a crane or a device for lifting and moving goods can move the spreader 1 and the container 6 attached to it. To open and close the hatches 8 of the container 6, for example, when unloading the container 6, the movable engagement mechanism 5 is moved by means of the power drive 4 and the force transmission means to the mating hatch controls and bring them into mutual engagement. Further movement of the movable engagement mechanism 5 causes the movement of the hatch controls and, accordingly, the hatches 8 themselves. For example, the movable engagement mechanism 5 contains a swivel mechanism 10 and an additional twistlock 9, and the hatch control reciprocal means - a reciprocal fitting (not shown in the figures) and rods 11 connecting the reciprocal fitting and hatches 8 as described above. The power drive 4 moves the movable engagement mechanism 5 to the mating fitting via means of force transmission (for example, including cables 12 and roller mechanisms 13) so that the additional twistlock 9 enters the mating fitting. Further, the rotary mechanism 10 rotates the additional twistlock 9 (for example, by means of a built-in drive, or by transferring the appropriate force from the power drive 4, or manually), so that the additional twistlock 9 engages with the mating fitting. After that, the movement of the movable engagement mechanism 5 up or down causes a similar movement of the mating fitting, and through it the corresponding movement up or down of the rods 11, which control the opening and closing of the hatches 8. It should be noted that opening hatches 8 may require both a simple unidirectional movement of the rods 11 downwards, and a more complex movement, for example, first a small displacement of the rods 11 upwards, and then a longer downward displacement. Such a two-stage movement of the rods 11 may be required, for example, when the hatches 8 must first be slightly raised to unlock them, and only after that the hatches 8 can be opened by moving the rods 11 down. It is obvious that with the help of the power drive 4 and/or the control unit 14 it is possible to implement any algorithm for moving the movable engagement mechanism 5 required to unlock, open, close and block the hatches 8. Moreover, by means of the power drive 4 and/or the control unit 14, it is also possible to implement additional or service functions, such as cleaning the hatches 8 or the entire container 6, for example, by giving them low-frequency vibrations, which is easily implemented using methods known to a specialist when using the claimed control device. container. Thus, the claimed container control device allows to significantly expand the functionality of known spreaders used to capture, hold, move and unload containers, provides the possibility of unloading a container with bottom unloading, as well as automating, simplifying and accelerating the process of unloading such a container. CLAIM 1. A container control device, including a frame with twistlocks installed on it, a power drive, a movable engagement mechanism and force transmission means connecting the power drive and the movable engagement mechanism, while the power drive and the force transmission means are placed essentially along the long sides of the frame , the movable engagement mechanism is placed substantially on the short sides of the frame, and the actuator is configured to reciprocate the movable engagement mechanism predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. 2. The container control device according to claim 1, in which the power drive is located essentially in the middle part of the frame. 3. The container control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power drive is a hydraulic drive including at least one hydraulic cylinder. 4. The container control device according to claim 3, further comprising a device for pressurizing the hydraulic drive fluid. 5. The container control device according to claim 3, additionally containing means for supplying the working fluid of the hydraulic drive. 6. The container control device according to claim 1, in which the force transmission means are a cable-block mechanism. 7. The container control device according to claim 6, in which the cable-block mechanism contains - 5 041993 listspast. 8. The container control device according to claim 1, in which the movable