EP0108748A1

EP0108748A1 - Mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure for elevating and moving advantageously containers of series 1, vehicles and heavy objects

Info

Publication number: EP0108748A1
Application number: EP19820901610
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arpád RADNOTI; György PAHOKI; István ALPARI
Original assignee: Alkoto Ifjusag Egyesueles
Current assignee: Alkoto Ifjusag Egyesueles
Priority date: 1982-05-18
Filing date: 1982-05-18
Publication date: 1984-05-23
Also published as: WO1983004014A1

Abstract

Dispositif de levage actionné mécaniquement composé d'une structure de colonne d'acier, pouvant être actionnée selon un agencement portatif et fixe. Le vérin d'appui au sol du dispositif de levage est une structure télescopique, où le poteau de levage guidé sur son poteau de support inférieur est entraîné par un mécanisme électrique de transmission aménagé au sommet du vérin d'appui au sol, au moyen d'une vis mère logée dans le poteau de levage. Les pièces principales des vérins d'appui au sol peuvent être démontées rapidement et aisément, de sorte qu'elles peuvent être transportées sur le véhicule dans les sections de conteneur disposées sous le châssis du véhicule de transport des conteneurs. Sous sa forme portative, le dispositif est indiqué principalement pour les conteneurs de la série 1, tandis que sous sa forme fixe ce même dispositif, muni de mécanismes auxiliaires de préhension et de chargement, est indiqué pour le levage et le déplacement par coussin d'air de conteneurs de série 1, ainsi que de véhicules routiers, de véhicules de remorque de chemin de fer et d'objets lourds.Mechanically actuated lifting device composed of a steel column structure, which can be actuated in a portable and fixed arrangement. The lifting cylinder on the ground of the lifting device is a telescopic structure, where the lifting pole guided on its lower support pole is driven by an electric transmission mechanism arranged at the top of the ground supporting cylinder, by means of '' a lead screw housed in the lifting post. The main parts of the ground support cylinders can be disassembled quickly and easily, so that they can be transported on the vehicle in the container sections arranged under the chassis of the container transport vehicle. In its portable form, the device is indicated mainly for the containers of series 1, while in its fixed form this same device, provided with auxiliary gripping and loading mechanisms, is indicated for lifting and moving by cushion. air from Series 1 containers, as well as from road vehicles, railway trailer vehicles and heavy objects.

Description

Mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure for elevating and moving advantageously containers of series 1, vehicles and heavy objects

The invention relates to a mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure which can be operated both in a portable and in a located form. In a portable form it is mainly suited for containers of series 1, while in its located form, along with its expedient gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms it is suitable for elevating and moving by air cushion containers of series 1, moreover road vehicles, railway trailed vehicles and heavy objects. The elevatϊng apparatus can advantageously by employed mainly in the large transport firms, ϊn the road and railway vehicle repairing companies, and in all those moderated sized workshops, service stations, cooperatives, state farms, where various elevating and loading technology tasks have to be solved.

Due to its feature increasing the transport capacity of the container transporting vehicle, the quite novel elevating apparatus can advantageously be utilized mainly in the a rea of container transport. Therefore first the basic terminology related to container transport will be disclosed, afterwards the typical features of the container elevating apparatus will be analyzed, compared to those of the existing elevating apparata of similar type, and finally the two types of the elevating apparatus of steel column structure will be disclosed of which elevating and loading auxiliary mechanisms have further been developed.

Prior to the description of the basic idea of the invention, main advantageous technological features of the elevating apparatus will be summed up, then those features enabling it for wide acceptance will be disclosed. in our days motorization keeps expanding to a great extent, because the requirements against the systems of transport technology are optimally met by the container (transport tank) transport.

Container transport is spread throughout the world, accordingly its main element, the container as well as its transporting and loading machines are standardized. The standards in relation of container have been developed by the ISO (international Standardization Organisation). As regards to the socialist countries, the basic terminology is disclosed in the Patent Specification No. 772. In the designation of the container the first number is the number of the series, the following alphabetical character refers to size, to inner capacity. Accordingly, the container marked with series 1.A is the largest while that marked with 1.F is the smallest within the series. In respect of elevating the container, the corner element is an element of key importance. The container is allowed to be elevated at the corner elements only, and even there horizontal and vertical forces of. determined strength are allowed only. This is very essential in constructing the container gripping mechanism, because those - and even existing - elevating apparata with a gripping mechanism not meeting the prescribed requirements can not be taken into account in respect of wide acceptance. Container bases, so-called container terminals according to the internationally accepted terminology have been organized for receiving, storing and arranging the containers both in the socialist and in the advanced capitalist countries. In Hungary the companies MAHART and MAV possess such facilities. The containers loaded with various kinds of goods arrive at the terminals on road, by railway vehicles and in ships. From here they are transported on mainly by road vehicles. The name of these road transport vehicles according to the common terminology is: container transporting tractor-trucks. A considerable part of the traffic between the terminals on one hand, and the traffic between the terminal and. the transport companies on the other hand is accomplished by tractor-trucks. The latter form is generally named as transport from house to house. The elevating apparatus has been developed mainly for this aim, because in this area mainly those elevating apparata co-operating with the vehicle are advantageous. In case of the from house to house transport a problem arises from that no elevating apparatus of large load capacity exists in the site of the transport firms, by which the vehicles can be loaded or unloaded with the containers, thus the vehicle can not but stay in the site for a long loading interval. One of the most important parameters as regards to container transport is the loading interval. Apparata facilitating the decrease in loading interval are very important in respect of transport technology. Depending on the sort of goods in the container, the loading interval can elapse even to a whole day, accordingly, the vehicle is poorly exploited. The self-loading, special tractor-trucks, such as e.g. those of type Klaus 284 and 287 from the GFR, as well as CKS 20000 from the GDR, with hydraulic transmission changed that situation. Such specially planned transport vehicles are very flexible, but very expensive, due to their complex mechanic equipment and the high cost of operation and maintenance. Therefore further development of transport vehicles of this type was out of question. According to technical literature and to the patent specifications, portable elevating apparata not constituting an integral unit with the transport vehicle have been developed, in contrast to the special transport vehicles mentioned above. Their advantage lies in their portability, because they are connected to neither the container nor to the tractor-truck. No special tractor-truck is required for the apparatus of this type, and its costs of production are essentially lower than those of the Klaus type systems. Accordingly, the save in production cost lies in elimintaing the tractor-truck itself. An apparatus of this type is disclosed in the Hungarian Patent Specification No. H2520 and in the GFR Patent Specification No. 1556553. The inventions relate to such portable container elevating apparata which are arranged during transport beneath the container, in the frame of the transport beneath the container, in the frame of the transport vehicle. The elevating apparata are in both inventions flat frame structures depending on the size of the container. In the Hungarian invention, the ground jacks are arranged beside the frame structure, while they are in the frame structure according to the GFR specification. The drawbacks of the portable apparata of this type can be summed up as follows: they increase total height of the transport vehicle thus not meeting the requirements of international traffic rules serving for safe traffic, i.e. the total height of the transport vehicle must not exceed 4 meters. Maximum width of the transport vehicle is also prescribed by international traffic rules, it is equal to 2.5 meters. Due to the fact that the ground jacks are arranged beside the elevat ing frame according to the Hungarian invention, the invention does not satisfy even the rule regarding to width. A further, common disadvantage of the Hungarian and GFR inventions lies in that frame structures of different size are required for the certainers of series 1, according to the different length of the containers. This solution is more disadvantageous than those employing gripping mechanism of merely single type for all the container types. Further deficiencies of said invention in technics and inloading technology will not be disclosed, because the disadvantageous features mentioned above guaranteed themselves that the elevating apparata of this type could not gain wide acceptance in practice. Another large family of the container elevating apparata is made up of apparata operated in a located form. The elevating apparatus according to the invention can also be employed in a located form. Typical features of the elevating apparata of this type will now be described.

By making groups from the known elevating apparata operated in a located form, various types of elevating apparata can be obtained. They can be sorted as elevating apparata provided with a column, grid, portal or expanded footing, in respect of the steel structure of the ground jack. A separate family is constituted within them by the hydraulically operated elevating apparata based on the principle of pivoted mechanism, and the hydraulic elevating apparata. Their feature is the small tare weight facilitating the mobilization of some of them. They can be sorted as lead screw, gear rack, chain cable, hydraulic, pneumatic types, and the combination of them, in respect of the structure of the elevating mechanism.

The elevating apparatus according to the invention was developed by taking into account of the gripping mechanisms of advantageous feature of the steel column structure elevating arrangement of located form of GFR type Plaff (Plaff-siIberblau Winden und Hebezeug G.m.b.H. Enzesfelder Strasse 1. A-2552 Hirtenberg) and of English type MDS 16/20 (Modular Distribution Systems Ltd. 47 Iratt Way, Westwood, Petersborough, PE 3 7 PN, England), as well as by eliminating their disadvantageous features.

The elevating apparatus of type Plaff is a manually operated, conventional steel column structure elevating apparatus of small mass, provided with gear rack. The elevating apparatus is made up of two parts: the ground jack and the container gripping mechanism. The container mechanism can be connected to the ground jack by two fixing journals. The container gripping mechanism of the elevating apparatus is advantageously formed, and it is connected to the corner elements of the container in a reliable way.

The gripping mechanism of the elevating apparatus according to the invention has been formed similarly, with the following differences: The gripping mechanism of the elevating apparatus according to the invention is formed as a bracket of uniform strength according to lessening of moment.

This way a structure of smaller mass is ob tained.

Only a single fixing journal is employed for connection rendering faster connection and simpler construction in respect of production technology. Another advantage of forming the gripping mechanism this way is also exploited, namely the ground jack can be arranged in a position being outside the design section of the railway vehicle by increasing the length of the horizontal connection bracket, thus railway vehicles can also be un loaded.

By increasing the side distance, a better elevating apparatus is obtained also in respect of labour safety, because safety distance is increased, when the vehicle drives to or from beneath the elevated container. Accordingly, the probability of hitting the ground jack by the vehicle decreases. The good and expedient the form of the container gripping mechanism in the elevating apparatus is, the inadvantageous is the ground jack Itself, particularly in case of manual operation. In our days, manual operation has become out-of-date. It can be characterized in the following disadvantageous features:

- simultaneous work of four people is necessary for elevation,

- synchron elevation can not be accomplished, resulting in a possible overload of the individual ground jacks,

- elevating the container onto the vehicle demands heavy display of physical strength, because the container has practically to be elevated to as high as 2 meters, - accordingly the crank is in such an height in the upper dead point, where it can be operated with difficulty. The English elevating apparatus of type MDS 16/20 is an electro-hydraulically operated steel column structure elevating apparatus. The form of the ground jack is also thought to be disadvantageous, due to the small side distance (15 cm): he who is able to drive his approximately 16 meter long transport vehicle to beneath the elevated container -watching the distance only from the mirror - must be a very skilled driver. As a result of the small side distance, an essentially smaller moment is on the elevating pillar involving a possible considerable decrease in the weight of the ground jack. Thus it is quite unperceptable, for us, why the ground jack is so weighty, that it can be elevated onto the container only by machine. Accordingly, an individual elevating apparatus is required for moving the ground jack. Thus the apparatus can not be installed in companies, not havint tiaring truck of at least 1 ton or crane of 1 ton. A further deficiency of the ground jack is that it is very complicated, labour-consuming and disadvantageous in respect of production technology. The special hydraulic working cylinder further increases first -cost prize, which is also reflected by the relative high price of the apparatus. Thus further develop ment of elevating apparata of this type is out of question.

An up-to-date elevating apparatus of said type is assured by various elevating and loading auxiliary mechanism that can be connected to it, according to our opinion.

The elevating apparatus according to the invention has been developed by preserving said advantageous features.

For this aim such an elevating console was formed on the ground jack, to which both the container gripping mechanism and the expedient elevating auxiliary mechanisms can easily and fast be connected. It is achieved by this solution that the steel mechanisms of the elevating auxiliary mechanisms have not to simulate the container.

Namely, in case of the English ground jack the container is gripped by the ground jack on the top and on the bottom. Accordingly, only those loading auxiliary mechanisms can be connected to the ground jack, which are formed according to the corner pillars of the container. Thus the rear and front walls of these auxiliary mechanisms are closed and the various auxiliary mechanisms can be accessed sidewise only, being disadvantageous in certain cases.

The area of utilizing the elevating apparatus according to the invention has been expanded during development, partly by forming said expedient elevating auxiliary mechanisms, partly by employing the principle of air cushion for elevation and displacement. Accordingly, the claims have also been supplemented. The novelty of the elevating apparatus according to the invention lies in displacing the ground jack by air cushion. As we know, nowhere has been employed air cushion for elevating containers. The air-cushion solution is of great importance particularly for container elevation, offering planar displacement in all directions. A further advantage lies in that the load of 1 ton can be transferred by a force of approximately 10 N. These advantageous features can be exploited in case of container elevation when the container elevated by the elevating apparatus has to be placed on the transport vehicle. The deposition requires fine maneouvring either of the transport vehicles or of the container. The container is fixed on the vehicle by T-journals. The transport vehicle must be positioned under the elevated container in such a way that the openings of the corner elements should accurately be above the journals of the vehicle, and the container can be sunk thereafter only. Positioning accurately above the journals can without any difficulties be accomplished by air cushion base. Air cushion transfer is of great importance even in respect of road vehicle elevation, e.g. when the motor arranged beneath the floor is sunk out of, and re-inserted into the buses, as well as in respect of railway trucks, when the truck has to be elevated onto the bogie. The novelty of the elevating apparatus according to the invention is the telescope-like formed ground jack itself. The ground jack practically is a working cylinder operated mechanically, i.e. by a screw shaft. The steel structure of the ground jack is made up of two parts: the lower part is a support pillar, the upper part is an elevating pillar. The elevating pillar is operated by an elevating lead screw guided on the support pillar.

The novelty and advancement of the elevating apparatus - compared to the known similar elevating apparata - can be characterized in the following solutions related to the structure and arrangement, and in the resulting advantages of simplified transport technology: - an advantage in respect of transport technology lies in that the steel structure of the ground jack is made up of telescope-like simple profiles of closed section that can be slid one into another, and it can be produced by a relative small number of cutting and welding operations;

- an advantage in respect of material handling and loading technology lies in that the ground jack can be supplemented with various gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms, as well as with an air cushion base;

- an advantage in respect of transport technology lies in that the elevating apparatus in its portable form can be transported along with the container transporting vehicle - in container sections arranged beneath its frame.

Compared to the known container elevating apparata presently used, the advantages of the solution according to the invention can be summed up as follows:

- it is suitable for transfer from a railway truck onto a road vehicle, and reversely;

- the ground jack can be disassembled to its main mechanic elements, and accordingly it can manually be handled too;

- its elevating lead screw is protected, is not contaminated;

- it is provided with a commercial transmission mechanism decreasing the production cost of the ground jack;

- it can be operated either manually or by machine;

- its advantage in respect of labour-safety lies in that a large size distance is achieved between the ground jack and the side wall of the container.

The invention is based on the perception that a light-weight, universally used elevating apparatus is necessary in the area particularly of container transport, as well as of material handling and of vehicle displacement.

The aim set can be achieved by the mechanically operated steel column structure elevating apparatus advantageously developed for transporting container mainly of series 1, but it can also be applied for elevating and displacing vehicles and heavy objects, which is achieved by gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms that can advantageously be connected to the ground jack.

The ground jack can be operated in two - lo catable and portable - forms. The ground jack of the elevating apparatus can be characterized in that the gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms that can be connected to it - such as e.g. the gripping mechanism, loading ramp, elevating bar, frame crane and the balance bridge - as well as the air cushion base serving for displacement of the freight are jointed in a releasable way.

The ground jack can further be characterized in that it is arranged in a portable way in the container section advantageously effected beneath the frame of the transport vehicle.

Another characteristic feature of the ground jack is that its frame structure is formed as a steel structure that can be slid one into another like a telescope, it is provided with an elevating lead screw centrally arranged in it, with an elevating console arranged outside the frame structure, with a transfer transmission mechanism and with a transmission mechanism. The embodiment of the ground jack can be characterized in that Its frame structure is made up of a telescope-like support pillar and an elevating pillar, the latter being provided with guiding sleeves inside and with an elevating console outside, facilitating connection of the gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms.

A lifting nut is arranged in the support pillar, while a self-aligning bearing is arranged in the elevating pillar. The elevating lead screw is encased by the lifting nut beneath and by the self-aligning bearing above.

The mechanical transmission system of the ground jack is made up of a transfer transmission mechanism and of a transmission mechanism constituting a single unit with one another, that are connected to the response shaft of the elevating lead screw in a slideable way. In case of manual operation, a driving wheel tubular shaft is connected to the rear output shaft of the transmission mechanism in a slideabte way.

The expedient gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms, such as e.g. the gripping mechanism, loading ramp, elevating bar, frame crane and the balance bridge are connected to the elevating console with a releasable joint, by way of the fixing journal.

A self-aligning base, displacing carriage, air cushion base are expediently arranged in the support pillar of the ground jack.

A characteristic feature of the portable form of the elevating apparatus is that the ground jack and its mechanical apparata, i.e. the gripping mechanism, the displacing carriage and the self- aligning base are arranged in the container section effected for them, and the electric apparata, i.e. the electric switchboard and the electric control box are arranged in a container section effected for them beneath the frame of the transport vehicle.

The elevating apparatus in its located form can be characterized in that the ground jack is provided with the expedient gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms, i.e. the gripping mechanism loading ramp, elevating bar, frame crane, balance bridge, and with the air cushion base operated by compressed air.

The invention will now be further described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a partly elevated side view of a possible arrangement of the mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure according to the invention, as well as of the auxiliary gripping and elevating mechanisms connected to said apparatus; Fig. 2 is a side and top view of a portable embodiment of the elevating apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the two phases of lifting a container onto a road vehicle, Fig. a illustrates the gripping of the container lying on the ground, and

Fig. b illustrates the placing of the elevated container on the vehicle,

Fig. 4 illustrates the four phases of removing the container from a railway and road vehicle,

Fig. a illustrates the moment of gripping the container,

Fig. b illustrates the container in an elevated position above the vehicles, Fig. c illustrates the container in an elevated position after the vehicles have left,

Fig. d illustrates the container placed on the ground, Fig. 5 is a side and front view of displacing the container by way of air cushion,

Fig. 6 is a side and front view of its powered displacement by way of self-aligning rolls placed under the container,

Fig. 7 is a side and front view of the loading ramp elevated by the elevating apparatus, in case of loading railway trucks with freight,

Fig. 8 is a side view of the balance bridge elevated by the elevating apparatus in case of vehicle reparation.

Fig. 9 is a side and front view of a frame crane and of an air cushion base connected to the elevating apparatus in case of elevating heavy objects,

Fig. 10 is a side and front view of an elevating apparatus supplemented with an elevating bar and a cushion base, in case of elevating a railway truck.

Fig. 1 illustrates the telescope-like frame work of the ground jack, along with the support pillar 5 beneath and with the elevating pillar 6 on the top of it. The latter is provided with sleeves 12. It is shown in the broken view that a lifting nut 8 in the support pillar 5, while a self- aligning bearing 11 is arranged in the elevating pillar 6. The elevating lead screw 7 is flanked by the lifting nut 8 beneath and by the self-aligning bearing 11 above. The elevating pillar 6 is provided with a lifting console 14 performing a connection of the auxiliary gripping and elevating mechanisms. A transfer transmission mechanism 9 and a trans mission mechanism 10 composing a single unit are arranged on the upper collar part of the etevating pillar 6, and they are connected to the flanged shaft of the elevating lead screw 7. For manual operation, the rear output shaft of the transmission mechanism 10 is provided with a driving wheel main shaft 13. The connection with the lifting console 14 is accomplished by a fixing journal 15. The container gripping mechanism formed for the containers of series 1 is also shown in Fig. 1 The gripping mechanism has a pivoted journal 17 beneath and a cantilever journal 16 above. Moreover, its frame is provided with a connecting bracket 18 of uniform strength. A self-aligning base 20, a displacing carriage 19 and an air-cushion base 21 are arranged in the support pillar 5 of the ground jack 5 for various elevating and transporting tasks.

Further on, the ground jack along with its component elements 5 to 14 will be referred to as ground jack I, while the gripping mechanism along with its component elements 16 to 18 will be referred to as gripping mechanism II.

Two views of the portable embodiment of the elevating apparatus are shown in Fig. 2.

On the top view the ground jacks I along with the gripping mechanisms II are shown adjacent to the corner pillars of the container.

The electric switchboard 3 and the electric control box 4 a re arranged in the vicinity of the vehicle. The container section 1 of the mechanic equipment and the container section 2 of the electric equipment are marked with a dashed line. In the figure, the ground jacks I are connected to the electric switchboard 3 by cables.

It is shown on the side view that the ground jacks I grip the container with their gripping mechanism II at the corner pillars. The self-aligning bases 20 are arranged in the support pillar 5 of the ground jacks I. In the figure, the container section 1 and the container section 2 are expediently arranged beneath the frame of the transporting vehicle.

Two phases of moving the container from/onto a road vehicle are shown In Figure 3, which can be a movement of the container from the ground onto the vehicle, or reversely. In the figure, the ground jack I is shown with the gripping mechanism II, as well as with the fixing journal 15 connecting them together. A self-aligning base 20 is arranged in the support pillar of the ground jack I.

Four phases of removing the container from railway and road vehicles are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. a is a side view of the ground jack I and of the gripping mechanism II, as they are connected to the corner pillars of the container. The self-aligning base 20 is arranged beneath the support pillar 5 of the ground jack I.

Fig. 4.b illustrates the container being in a position above the vehicles,

Fig. 4.c illustrates the container being in an elevated position after the vehicles have left, while in

Fig. 4.d the container has been placed on the ground.

Fig. 5 is a side view and front view of moving the container manually on air-cushion, in a located embodiment. Now, air-cushion bases 21 are formed in the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks I. Fig. 6 is a side view and front view of moving the container by machine, in a located embodiment. The ground jacks I along with their gripping mechanisms II are arranged beside the corner pillars of the container. Self-aligning rolls 26 are arranged under the Lower corner elements of the container.

Fig. 7 is a side view and front view of the ground jacks I along with the loading platform 22 in a located embodiment. A covered railway truck is shown in the vicinity. The loading platform 22 is connected to the ground jacks I by fixing journals 15. In the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks the self-aligning bases 20 are situated.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the ground jacks I along with the balance bridge 25, in a located embodiment. Road vehicLes are shown on the balance bridge 25 in the environment. The balance bridge 25 is connected to the ground jacks I by the fixing journals 15. Beneath the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks I the self-aligning bases 20 are situated.

Fig. 9 is side view and front view of the ground jacks I along with the frame crane 24, in a located embodiment. A mechanical main piece is shown on the frame crane 24 in the environment.

The frame crane 25 is connected to the ground jacks by the fixing journals 15. The air-cushion bases 21 are arranged in the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks I. Fig. 10 is a side view and a front view of the ground jacks I along with the elevating bar 23, in a located embodiment. The elevating bar 23 is connected to the ground jacks I by the fixing jour- nals 15.The air-cushion bases 21 are arranged in the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks I.

The method of operating the mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure according to the Invention will now be described, with reference to Fig. 1.

The elevating pillar 6 of the ground jack I is brought Into operation by the elevating lead screw 7, where said pillar 6 is guided by sleeves 12 and displaces on the telescope-like support pillar 5 of the ground jack I. During operation of the elevating lead screw 7 the support pillar 5 along with the elevating nut 8 arranged in it are in a standing position, while it elevates or drops - according to the sense of rotation - the elevating pillar 6 and the elevating console 14 composing a single unit through the self-aligning bearing 11. In case of machine operation, it is operated by the elevating lead screw 7, by the transfer transmission mechanism 9 which can be mounted on its flanged shaft and by the transmission mechanism 10 connected to it by a rele.asable joint. The rear output shaft 13 of the transmission mechanism 10 is provided with a driving wheel main shaft 13 facilitating also manual operation through the total transmission. Figure also shows the side view of the container gripping mechanism II.

The container is gripped by the container gripping mechanism II connected to the elevating console 14 by the fixing journal 15. The container gripping mechanism II can be connected to the container by the pivoted journaL 17 and by the fix journal 16. The pivoted journal 17 is arranged In the standard opening of the lower, while the fix journal 16 in that of the upper corner element of the container during elevation. The pivoted journal 17 is fastened to the corner element at a rotation of 90°. Loading is taken by the pivoted journal 17 during elevation.

Figure shows the side view of the displacing carriage 19 in the support pillar 5 of the ground jack I. The displacing carriage 19 has two fix valves in the front, and a self-aligning valve in the rear. The displacing carriage 19 is moved by a push bar. The ground jack I can independently be moved by the displacing carriage 19 and - providing that compressed air is available - by the air-cushion base 21. The ground jack I along with the freight elevated by it can only be displaced by the air--cushion base 21. In a portable form, the self- -aligning base 20 and the displacing carriage 19 for moving, while in a located form, expediently the self-aligning base, the displacing carriage 19 and the air-cushion base 21 are arranged in the support pillar 5 of the ground jack I during elevation. The detailed description of operating the elevating apparatus will be disclosed for the portable form, because it is operated in the same way in case of a located form. The difference between the two types of operation lies In the expediently applied elevating auxiliary mechanisms as well as in the air-cushion displacement, in case of the located form.

In both forms, the elevating apparatus comprises three electric switchboards and four electric control boxes. Fig. 2 illustrates the elevating apparatus in a portable form. The transport vehicle has arrived at the spot designated for unloading, according to the figure. First the ground jacks I and gripping mechanisms II, the self-aligning bases 20 and the displacing carriage 19 have to be removed from the container section 1, afterwards the electric switchboard 4 and the electric control box 3 can be removed from the container section 2. Having been arranged in the location marked in the top view, the electric switchboard 4 has to be connected to the electric power connection, while the electric control box 3 to the electric switchboard 4.

Then the electric high-voltage and control cables are arranged beside the corner pillars of the container, according to the ground jacks I. By placing the ground jacks 1 on the displacing carriage 19 one after the other and connecting them to the gripping mechanisms II, they all have to be transferred to the corner pillars of the container, where the gripping mechanisms II are elevated onto the corner pillars of the container by the ground jacks I themselves, after the electric cables have been connected to the jacks. Electric control is developed in such a way that the ground jacks I can eitner individually or simultaneously be operated by the four electric control boxes. As the individual ground jacks I are fastened to the corner pillars of the container, the self-aligning bases 20 have to be placed beneath the pillar box 5 by operating the transmission mechanism 10.

The container fixing journals arranged on the transport vehicle have always to be bolted before elevation. Then bringing the ground jacks I into operation by the electric control box 4, the container is unloaded from the vehicle by the apparatus. Elevation is stopped by the limit switch arranged on the ground jacks I, and then the vehicle is allowed to drive out from beneath the elevated container. After the vehicle has left, the container is sunk into the ground by the apparatus operated by the electric control box 4.

Loading the vehicle with the container is accomplished in a similar way as described above, in a reverse sequence.

Fig. 3 illustrates the removal of the container from a road vehicle, either In a portable or in a Located 'form. The phases of elevating the container are shown in an enhanced scale in the figure, thus the structure of the ground jack and of the gripping mechanism connected to it are well iIlustrated.

Fig. 4 illustrates not only the individual steps of removing a container from a road vehicle, but also from a railway vehicle. The relatively large size distance effected between the ground jack and the container side wall is shown in the figure. This large size distance allows loading and unloading of containers arriving on railway trucks too, in a located form. As it has been referred to, the apparatus is also suitable for transfering containers from railway trucks to road vehicles. The preconditions of this are a concrete base of proper di mensions as well as a railway rail sunk into the concrete base.

Two views of manual displacement of the container are shown in a Located form in figure 5, where the air cushion bases 21 are arranged in the support pillars 5 of the ground jacks I. The ground jacks I along with the air cushion bases 21 facilitate loading and unloading of the road and railway vehicles with containers, and the displacement of the containers in a given area. The air cushion operation assumes relative smooth concrete base and available compressed air.

Two views of machine displacement of the container are shown in figure 6, accomplished by truck wheels 26 arranged beneath the container base. The container is moved by a dolly in the figure.

Two views of the ground jacks I along with the loading ramp 22 are shown In figure 7.

Slope bridge elements are formed adjacent to the loading ramps 22. Thus the tiering trucks can drive both to a railway and to a road vehicle. Figure illustrates the unloading of a railway truck. The ground jacks I connected to the loading ramp 22 can also be used as an individual Loading unit. Figure 8 illustrates a joint embodiment of the ground jacks I and of the balance bridge, in a located form. A bus and a tractor are shown on the balance bridge. The balance bridge 25 facilitates the exchange, checking and pointing of the spare parts arranged under the frame of the vehicle. This solution is also suitable for sinking out the motor arranged under the floor of the bus.

Fig. 9 illustrates the ground jacks I along with the frame crane 24. Self-aligning bases 21 are arranged beneath the ground jacks I. This solution allows assembling and moving different heavy means. Figure illustrates the elevation of the mechanic main piece - which can be a motor or a gear box - from the ground, and placing it on a road vehicle.

Two views of. the ground jacks I with the ele vating bar 23 are shown in Fig. 10, in a located form. Air cushion bases 21 are arranged beneath the ground jacks I. figure illustrates, purely by way of example, a railway truck on the elevating bar 23 in an elevated position. The elevating bar 23 embodiment can be advantageously used particularly in the railway truck recovery workshops, and in some vehicle repairing stations, as an apparatus in recovering technology.

The elevating apparatus can be employed particularly in the container transport due to its considerable economic and transport technology ad vantage. In a portable form it can be carried along with the container transporting vehicle, thus facilitating fast loading and unloading of containers, resulting effectively in the decrease in Loading time and in the increase of the vehicle capacity. Providing that several transport vehicles are supplemented with the elevating apparatus in the large transport firms, a considerable increase in transport capacity can be achieved at a very low investment cost. This also designates one of the areas of utilizing the elevating apparatus.

The novelty of the elevating apparatus lies in its portability in container transport. It has been achieved partly by forming its main pieces as being sectional, partly by arranging it beneath the frame of the transport vehicle.

The novelty of the elevating apparatus lies - in case of a located embodiment - in employing an air cushion base, in addition to its flexible loading and elevating features. In a located operation, the elevating apparatus is suitable for elevating, as well as for moving containers, vehicles, and other heavy freights. Accordingly, in respect of utilization, container terminals, service workshops, workshops repairing road and railway vehicles, railway trucks, reloading stations and all those firms requiring inexpensive, flexible and heavily loadable elevating and loading equipment can be taken into account.

The mechanic main piece of key importance of the elevating apparatus is the ground jack. The novelty of the ground jack lies in Its telescope- like steel column structure and in the resulting advantage in technology of production. The ground jack can be produced by relative few steps of welding and cutting, thus it can be produced even in moderately tooled, small workshops. These advantages, as well as the employment of the commercial transmission mechanism advantageously affect the production costs of the apparatus. The ground jack can easily and fast be disassembled to its main components. Merely two persons suffice to displace and assemble the main parts. Easy and fast assembling of the self- contained mechanic units as main pieces has particularly importance in portable operation, because they can be arranged in the container sections of the transport vehicle. Closed structure of the main units and the elevating lead screw protected from contamination of the ground jack facilitates the operation of the apparatus even under bad conditions, irrespective of weather. Advantage of the elevating apparatus - In contrast to the known similar container elevating apparata - lies in that it elevates itself its gripping mechanism onto the container during elevation, and allows loading and unloading of railway trucks.

Claims

CLA I MS

1. A mechanically operated elevating apparatus of steel column structure for elevating and (or) moving advantageously containers of series 1, vehicles and heavy objects, being provided with expedient gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms, in a locatable portable or embodiment, in which its ground jack I is provided with expedient gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms - gripping mechanism II, loading ramp 22, elevating bar 23, frame crane 24, balance bridge 25, the apparatus is further provided with an air cushion base 21 in a disjointable fashion, it is portable in a container section 1, its frame structure is formed as a telescope-like column mechanism being slideable info one another and being provided with an elevating lead screw 7 inside and with an elevating consol 14 outside, with a transfer transmission mechanism 9 and with a transmission mechanism 10.

2. An elevating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the frame structure of the ground jack I comprises a telescope-like support pillar 5 and an elevating pillar 6, the latter being provided with sleeves 12 inside, and with an elevating console 14 outside.

3. An elevating apparatus as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which a lifting nut 8 is arranged in the support pillar 5 of the ground jack I, while a self-aligning bearing 11 is arranged in its elevating pillar 6.

4. An elevating apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3, in which the elevating lead screw 7 is encased by a lifting nut 8 beneath and by a self-aligning bearing 11 above.

5. An elevating apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 4 in which the transfer transmission mechanism 9 and the transmission mechanism 10 constituting a common unit are arranged in such a way that they can be slid to the collared shaft of the elevating lead screw 7.

6. An elevating apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 5 in which a driving wheel tubular shaft 13 is connected to the rear output shaft of the transmission mechanism 10 in a slideable way.

7. An elevating apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 6, in which the gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms - gripping mechanism II, loading ramp 22, elevating bar 23, frame crane 24, balance bridge 25 - are connected to its elevating console 14 by a disjointable fastening, by way of the fixing journal 15.

8. An elevating apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 7 in which expediently a self- aligning base 20, displacing carriages 19 and an air-cushion base 21 are arranged in the elevating pillar 5 of the ground jack I.

9. An elevating apparatus as claimed in anyof the claims 1 to 8, in which in its portable form, the ground jack I, the gripping mechanism II, the displacing carriage 19 and the self-aligning base 20 are arranged in the container section 1, while its electric apparata - the electric switchboard 3 and the electric control box 4 in the container section 2, under the frame of the transport vehicle.

10. An elevating apparatus as cLaimed in any of the claims 1 to 8 in which - in the located embodiment - the ground jack I is expediently provided with the gripping and elevating auxiliary mechanisms - gripping mecharrism II, loading ramp 22, elevating bar 23, frame crane 24, balance bridge 25 - and with the compressed air operated air cushion base 21 and (or) the self-aligning base.