EP1441974A1

EP1441974A1 - Container-spreader and pertaining container

Info

Publication number: EP1441974A1
Application number: EP01962883A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hermann Kruse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-27
Filing date: 2001-07-27
Publication date: 2004-08-04
Also published as: WO2002010056A1; JP2004504998A; CN1466542A; AU2001283965A1

Abstract

A lifting device (1) for containers (container spreader) is disclosed, with which closed or open containers can be picked by a crane, for example, to load or unload a ship. Also disclosed is a container which may be used with said lifting device. The lifting device is particularly characterised by a first switching and locking device with a twistlock unit, which, by means of a pushing and twisting motion, can lock one or several containers stacked on each other to the lifting device. The container or a similar transport holder are characterised in particular by a second switch and locking device with a twistlock unit which, by means of a pushing and twisting motion, can lock one or several further containers stacked under said container to said container.

Description

Container spreaders and containers therefor

The invention relates to a container spreader with which closed or open containers can be gripped by a crane, for example to load or unload a ship. The invention further relates to a container which is intended for use with the recording device according to the invention.

The recording devices, also known as loading equipment, are generally known and can be found at almost every container transshipment point. An essential requirement feature of these devices is that a container can be attached as quickly and easily as possible, for example to B. when loading or unloading ships to keep the relatively expensive lay time as short as possible.

For this reason and for security reasons, it is therefore considered to be disadvantageous if a person is required on the recording device to pick up or put down a container in order to, for. B. to lock or unlock the container.

An object on which the invention is based is therefore to look for a possibility with which the handling of containers can be significantly accelerated.

In particular, a receptacle for containers and a container adapted to it are to be created, in which receptacles can be picked up and set down without a person having to be on the receptacle or container.

The object is achieved with a pick-up device for containers according to claim 1. The object is further achieved with a container according to claims 2 and 3.

The dependent claims contain advantageous developments of the invention.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a recording device according to the invention. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a first container; 3 shows a perspective illustration of a second container; 4 shows a perspective illustration of a third container; 5 (a) to (c) cross sections through a support of the recording device; 6 (a) to (d) cross sections through a kidney tube in different operating positions;

7 (a) to (d) are enlarged partial representations from FIGS. 6 (a) to (d); 8 (a) to (c) a simplified representation of the kidney tube according to FIG. 6 in the first container in different operating positions;

9 (a) and (b) show a simplified illustration of the kidney tube according to FIG. 6 in the second container in different operating positions; and FIGS. 10 (a) to (e) cross sections through a corner region of the first and second containers.

Figure 1 shows schematically an inventive recording device 1 for containers, which is also referred to as a container spreader and which is placed on a container from above. The horizontal struts 2 to 5 can generally be extended so that they can be adapted to the length of the container. At the outer ends of the horizontal struts are vertical supports 6 to 9, which are each placed on the corners of the container. The recording device 1 has a suspension device 10 on which it is captured by a crane.

FIG. 2 shows such a first container 20, which according to the invention has one each between its upper and lower corners 21, 23; 24, 26; 27, 29; 30, 32 extending nierkant pipe 22, 25, 28, 31 (indicated by dashed lines) is provided. In the area of the upper and lower corners of the container 20, ie above and below the kidney tubes, there is an elongated hole L and an insert 211, 231; 241, 261; 271, 291; 301, 321 with an (upper or lower) hole.

The containers shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are also constructed in the same way, the same or corresponding parts, however, with reference numbers other than are designated in Figure 2 in order to better explain the interaction with the recording device.

Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows a second container 30, which according to the invention has one each between its upper and lower corners 33, 35; 36, 38; 39, 41; 42, 44 extending Nierkantrohr 34, 37, 40, 43 (indicated by dashed lines) is provided. In the area of the upper and lower corners of the container 30, ie above and below the kidney tubes, there is an elongated hole L and an insert 331, 351; 361, 381; 391, 411; 421, 441 with an (upper or lower) hole.

Finally, FIG. 4 shows a third container 40, which according to the invention has one each between its upper and lower corners 45, 47; 48, 50; 51, 53; 54, 56 extending Nierkantrohr 46, 49, 52, 55 (indicated by dashed lines) is provided. In the area of the upper and lower corners of the container 40, ie above and below the kidney tubes, there is an elongated hole L and an insert 451, 471; 481, 501; 511, 531; 541, 561 with an (upper or lower) hole.

FIGS. 5 (a) to (c) show a cross section through one of the supports 6 to 9 of the recording device 1, each with a first switching and locking device, all four supports being constructed identically. Figure 5 (a) shows a starting position, Figure 5 (b) a first stroke position and Figure 5 (c) a second stroke position.

Each support includes a lifting cylinder 14 which is actuated hydraulically or pneumatically in a known manner and axially moves a first transmission shaft 125. Furthermore, a first twistlock unit 11 is provided, which has an inner twistlock 112 attached to the lower end of the transmission shaft 125 in the illustration and an outer twistlock 111 which is constructed in the manner of a hammer head screw.

In particular, the outer twistlock 111 comprises a shaft 1111 surrounding the transmission shaft 125, the periphery of which is provided (milled) with a square wedge 1113 in the region of the lower end of the shaft, and an essentially rectangular support piece 1112 which is attached to the lower end of the shaft 1111 is attached. The upper end of the shaft 1111 is screwed to a support disk 127 surrounding this end, which has an internal thread for this purpose, this screw connection preferably being secured with a grub screw in order to to prevent intentional loosening of the screw connection.

The support disk in turn rests on an abutment 128 which is welded to the square tube and emerges as a guide 124 from the lower end of the square tube.

Furthermore, a first drive device 12 for rotating the transmission shaft 125 and thus the inner twistlock 112 and a second drive device 13 for rotating the support disk 127 and thus the outer twistlock 111 are provided.

The square wedge 1113 prevents the outer twistlock 111 from unintentionally rotating in a rotational position locked with a container.

Figure 6 shows schematically a cross section through a square tube with a second switching and locking device, as it is used with the same structure according to Figures 2, 3 and 4 in four different operating positions.

Inside the square tube 92 there is a continuous rod 925, at the upper end of which a receptacle (fork pocket) 922 for an inner twistlock (for example the inner twistlock 112 from FIG. 5) of a container or a recording device located above it is fastened, while on the An inner twist lock 932 is mounted at the lower end of the rod 925. Furthermore, a spring tube 929 is attached to the receptacle 922. This spring tube extends with its opposite (lower) end through a first guide 930, with which it is held substantially coaxially with the rod 925. At the same time, a return spring 926 acts between this first guide 930 and a cross-sectional widening 931 present on the receptacle 922, which presses or prestresses the spring tube, the receptacle and thus also the rod in the direction of the upper end of the square tube in the figure.

Furthermore, a sleeve 921 is pushed onto the rod 925, which extends in the starting position shown in FIG. 6 (a) with one end approximately up to the region of the upper part of the first guide 930 and is attached with its other end to a support disk 927 , An outer twistlock 931, which in turn is constructed in the manner of a hammer head screw, comprises a shaft 9311 pushed onto the lower end of the rod 925, to the lower end of which a substantially rectangular support piece 9312 is fastened. The area of the lower end of the shaft is provided with a square wedge 9313 on its circumference, which prevents the outer twistlock 111 from inadvertently rotating in a rotational position locked with a container.

The support disk 927 has an internal thread, with which the upper end of the shaft 9311 is screwed and is preferably secured with a grub screw in order to prevent the screw connection from being unintentionally loosened.

The support disk 927 rests on the guide bush 9241 of a second guide 924 which surrounds the shaft 9311 of the outer twist lock 931. In the operating positions shown in FIGS. 6 (b), (c), (d), the guide bush rests on an abutment 928 which is welded to the square tube 92.

Finally, in the area of the lower end of the spring tube 929 and in the area of the upper end of the sleeve 921 there is a toothing 935, 936 (e.g. pin 935 on the sleeve and guide 936 for this on the spring tube), which in the in the FIGS. 6 (a) to (c) engage the axial displacement positions with one another and transmit a rotary movement and are separated from one another in the displacement position according to FIG. 6 (d).

FIGS. 7 (a) to (d) once again show the area of the lower end of the square tube in the operating positions according to FIGS. 6 (a) to (d) in an enlarged view.

The functional sequence with which the first container 20 and the second container 30 are received with the recording device and these are placed on the third container 40 and locked with it is to be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9 for a first and a respectively second switching and locking device will be described. The same processes and functions, however, also take place in the other switching and locking devices of the supports or square tubes.

For clarification, Figures 5, 8 and 9 can be placed against each other in the longitudinal direction to be viewed as. It should be taken into account here that the second switching and locking device is only shown in a simplified representation in FIGS. 8 and 9, since its structure has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

To receive the first container 20, the recording device 1 (FIG. 1) moves over the first container 20 (FIG. 2) and is placed thereon in such a way that the twistlock unit 11 of each support 6 to 9 fits into the upper corners 21 , 24, 27, 30 of the first container 20 existing elongated holes L. The first switching and locking device is in the starting position shown in FIG. 5 (a), while the second switching and locking device is in the starting position shown in FIG. 8 (a) (as also in FIG. 6 (a)).

The second drive device 13 is now activated by a signal triggered by the crane operator and rotates the outer twistlock 111 by 90 degrees, so that the support piece 1112 cannot emerge again from the elongated hole L and thus the first container 20 is connected to the recording device 1 and can be raised.

In order to ensure that the twistlocks can be moved in and out smoothly with a suitable guide for the rest of the process, as already mentioned, the upper and lower inserts 211, 231; 241, 261; 271, 291; 301, 321; 331, 351; 361, 381; 391, 411; 421, 441; 451, 471; 481, 501; 511, 531; 541, 561 each introduced a hole.

In order to subsequently be able to accommodate the second container 30, the inner twist lock 112 of the recording device 1 is first extended into the first operating position shown in FIG. 5 (b) by appropriately loading the lifting cylinder 14. The inner twistlock 112 lies in the fork pocket (receptacle) 222 and presses the twistlock unit 223 of the second switching and locking device with the guide 224 through the lower corner 23 of the first container 20 out of the latter. The first container 20 is then moved over the second container 30 with the aid of the recording device 1, the extended twistlock units 223 supporting the positioning of the first container 20 so that all container corners are one above the other and the twistlock units 223 with the guide 224 when the first container is set down can be inserted into the upper elongated holes L of the second container 30. The second operating position thus achieved is shown in FIG. 8 (b), in which This figure can also be seen that the extended guide 224 with the twist lock unit 223 of the first container 20 is now in the upper corner 33 of the second container 30.

The first drive device 12, which rotates the inner twistlock 112 by 90 degrees, is then activated by a signal triggered by the crane operator, so that the twistlock unit 223 and in particular the support piece 2234 of the outer twistlock 2231 in the first container 20 are also rotated via the fork pocket 222 Is rotated 90 degrees and thus can no longer emerge from the elongated hole L. The second container 30 is thus locked with the first container 20 and can be lifted with the latter. This position corresponds to the position shown in Figure 6 (c).

In order to be able to place the two containers 20, 30 securely on the third container 40 with the aid of the recording device 1, the twistlock unit 343 of the second container 30 must first be extended.

In the raised state, the outer twistlocks 111, 2231 cannot move due to the square wedge 113, 2233. Since the inner twistlock 112 of the first switching and locking device has its own (first) drive device 12, the inner twistlock 2232 of the first container 20 is rotated back into the position shown in FIG. 8 (b), with a slight axial displacement of the spring tube 929 compared to the sleeve 921 by means of the lifting cylinder 14, the teeth 935, 936 is released, so that the subsequent rotary movement is only exerted on the inner twist lock 2232.

Thus, the inner twistlock 112 of the recording device 1 is again in the starting position before being inserted into the fork pocket 222 of the first container 20, and the inner twistlock 2232 of the first container 20 is again in the starting position, in which it is in the fork pocket 342 of the second container 30 can be introduced.

The second switching and locking device in the second container 30 is still in the starting position shown in FIG. 9 (a).

The lifting cylinder is then activated by a signal triggered by the crane operator 14 extended into the second operating position shown in Figure 5 (c). The twistlock unit 343 with the guide 344 is now extended out of the second container 30 via the inner twistlock 112 of the recording device and the inner twistlock 2232 of the first container 20, so that the positioning of the second container 30 over the third container 40 in the manner described above is facilitated.

The two containers 20 and 30 which are suspended one below the other are then placed on the fourth container 40, so that the extended twistlock units 343 with the guides 344 can enter the upper elongated holes L of the fourth container 40.

When the containers are one above the other and are relieved and the position shown in FIG. 9 (b) is thus reached, the inner twistlock 112 of the recording device 1 can use the inner twistlock 2232 of the first container 20 to return the twistlock unit 343 to that shown in FIG lock the second container 20 as described.

If the three containers 20, 30, 40 are now to remain locked together, the inner twistlock 112 is moved back into the starting position according to FIG. 5 (a) by means of the lifting cylinder 14 and the outer twistlock 111 is rotated by 90 degrees by means of the second drive unit 13, so that the recording device 1 can be unlocked and raised by the first container 20.

FIG. 10 shows once again the positions of the twistlock unit 223 of the first container 20 when it is put on and locked with the second container 30. In FIG. 10 (a) the first container 20 has been put on and has not yet been locked. Figure 10 (b) shows the locked state, while Figure 10 (c) shows the position after the inner twistlock 2232 has been turned back. This can then engage in the fork pocket 342 of the second container 30 and be extended in accordance with FIG. 10 (d) in order to finally lock the outer twist lock 3431 with the third container 40 in accordance with FIG. 10 (e).

In the simplified representations of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 compared to FIGS. 6 and 7, reference numbers 221 (341) denote the square tube of the first (second) container; 2231 (3431) the outer twistlock of the first (second) container, 2232 (3432) the inner twistlock of the first (second) container; 2233 (3433) the square keying of the first (second) container; 2241 (3441) the guide bushing of the first (second) container; 226 (346) the return spring of the first (second) container; 224 (344) guiding the first (second) container; 227 (347) the carrier disk of the first (second) container; and 228 (348) the abutment of the first (second) container.

Claims

claims

1. Recording device for containers or similar loads, characterized by a first switching and locking device with a twist lock unit (11) with which one or more containers standing one above the other can be locked with the recording device by means of a lifting and rotating movement.

2. Container or similar transport container, characterized by a second switching and locking device with a twist lock unit (223; 343), with which one or more underlying containers can be locked with the container by means of a lifting and rotating movement.

3. Container or similar transport container, characterized by a second switching and locking device with a twist lock unit (223; 343) which can be operated with a first switching and locking device of a recording device according to claim 1.