EP1999040A1

EP1999040A1 - Device and method for inserting and removing securing fittings for twist-lock containers

Info

Publication number: EP1999040A1
Application number: EP07764319A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rainer Kapelski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-02
Filing date: 2007-03-01
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-03-01
Also published as: US20090199517A1; PT1999040E; NZ570328A; EP1999040B1; WO2007098749A1; AU2007219527A1; ES2348754T3; DK1999040T3; AU2007219527B2; PL1999040T3; DE102006015807A1; US7779604B2; DE502007004923D1; ATE479611T1

Abstract

A device for inserting and removing securing fittings for twist-lock containers includes a support plate for containers, which is provided with a pneumatically or hydraulically driven screwing mechanism with a slot gripper for each expected position of a securing fitting for the twist-lock container.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING TWI ST-LOCK CONTAINER MOUNTING HOLES

The invention relates to a device according to the features of the preamble of the main claim.

When loading and unloading container ships or other container transporting facilities so-called twist locks are used to be used in correspondingly provided recesses at the corners of the container, to attach them to the pitch or to each other.

Evidently, there is a need to quickly attach these twist locks, which are not part of the container, to release again from the container when not in use, and to keep it safe until the next use, so that they do not pollute or lose, go. For example, incorrectly mounted twist locks that are located in the driving area of heavy goods vehicles on the roadway also pose a risk to the tires of the large forklift trucks, which can damage them.

So far, part of this task, namely attaching, has been solved by complicated devices, such as those described in US Pat. No. 6,688,249 B1, or, which is standard in small and large ports worldwide, by workers working on the containers perform the appropriate gripping, tensioning and attaching operations while hanging from a crane at eye level.

Here, there is another problem that the workers only HE to the container ^'must' rantreten when it stands still, before the space and surrounding area, is lowered into the container, locked. Next, the crane operator has to estimate consuming, in what amount he should lower the container so that the - manual access is easily accessible. while he has to reduce his lowering speed gradually strong.

The invention, however, solves the problem with a device having the features of the main claim by not only creates a defined platform on which by appropriate guides a container comes to stand at a defined location and in addition to a complete barrier is possible (ie a approach as previously avoided).

Rather, if desired, cranes or people can move freely around the platform. In particular, access is no longer required under suspended loads to a free-hanging container, but - if any - to a settling plate on which no container is (the workers are therefore also freely visible).

The locking and unlocking takes place automatically. Proposed is either a pneumatic or hydraulic screw-operated with a screw device or in particular a druclduftbetriebene screwing similar to the Radmutterwerkzeugen in motor vehicle repair shops.

However, to remove a twist lock, only an approx. 90 ° turn is necessary. This is done by the twist locks in each provided in the device (the Anticipated locations of the container corners opposite) receiving slot come to rest, which brings them against a provided in the twist-lock spring tension in the twisting position in which they can be released from the container.

After twisting a twist-lock end into a defined position, the container can be lifted and the twist locks remain in the receptacle.

By provided at the four corners magazine can. when re-inserting usually four twist locks at the corners of the container, the insertion can be done just as quickly and automatically.

Now the use of such a platform can not be easily retrofitted for use in harbors where heavy forklift trucks drive around freely and cranes run along the quayside on rails. Neither power supply or compressed air lines can be easily laid on the port field, as they would be exposed by the heavy cranes considerable loads - or otherwise interfere with the free movement, nor can be easily generated by a motor energy, because then a "refueling" in regular Spaces would be necessary and disproportionate maintenance costs would come in. In particular, the supply of compressed air is extremely expensive.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the invention is capable of producing the compressed air intended for actuating the receptacles by providing gas reservoirs below the receptacle, the settling plate, which are compressed by the container placed thereon and by appropriate electronic or pneumatic means Valve control then supply the compressed gas to a compressed gas storage. ,

Optionally, a battery may be provided to supply the electronic control; this can be charged by a pressurized gas engine or charged otherwise if necessary.

It is particularly advantageous that the container does not have to be stopped before final settling at working height in order, for example, to be able to remove twist locks by hand. Also, the crane can relatively quickly the container on the lashing platform to be designated device for inserting Attach twist-lock container safety fittings, as the gas pressure of such "padded" behavior of the lashing platform does not cause any damage to the container.

Also, a plurality of already interconnected containers can be placed one above the other on the device, after which a crane can then transport, for example, three empty containers at once, which are interconnected by twist locks. A crane will support the previously provided with Twist-Locks upper container supported by guides of the lashing platform exactly on lower containers, with semi-automatic Twist-Locks even make the secure bond.

Due to the load distribution of the subframe, the floor under the frame is also less stressed in the gantry area, there can not be a harsh impact of the container on, for example, a harbor floor pavement, which up to now may have been the problem of sensitive goods inside the container, but also the asphalt in the portal area could be damaged.

Advantageously, the platform is present in a design corresponding to a 40 "Conatiner and can thus be optionally a 20" container, 2 x 20 "container, a 40" or even at 'corresponding overhangs a 45 "container be included or hydraulically telescopic to 45 ".

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Showing:

1 shows the device according to the invention in a lateral view,

1 in a non-loaded state with schematically indicated magazines for twist-lock fittings, eg at each corner, 3 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with eight Schraubeinrich- lines,

4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with eight, provided with magazines screwing and (dashed lines indicated) air, bellows,

5 shows a schematic frontal view of a specially designed magazine for the device according to the invention,

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the magazine of FIG. 5 and

Fig. 7 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention in a ■ schematic plan view (A), in a schematic side view (B) and in a schematic frontal view (C).

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 are clearly the individual damper, air bellows 10 or compressor, which - unlike shown - can be provided in large numbers under the platform, to recognize. Through it energy is gained during the gentle lowering of the container to be kept in a compressed gas storage.

In Fig. 1 it is shown how bellows 10 and hydraulic shock absorbers 12 may be provided in combination with each other.

By accordingly provided in the corners and / or sides of the platform, in any case the storage locations in the container adjacent, compressed air operated twist locks TL. Catching and reversing removal devices 16 (see Fig. 3 and 4), the twist locks TL can be removed from the container in one operation and the container can then be transported without twist locks TL even further. The remaining twist locks TL in the stoppers are either removed in a simple embodiment by personnel (for this there is time, because the crane otherwise just raises a container) or optionally by a corresponding removal device in a magazine 14 (see FIG. 2).

In usual cycles of 30 containers per hour, a person can manually put the twist locks TL in a ready-to-lie, lying magazine and if necessary, optically check the twist locks TL for their condition. In contrast to the manual removal of the twist locks TL from a container, there is the great advantage that the container itself no longer has to be stopped during its transport for a long time and in particular no longer by a crane operator in, for example, 1.50 m above the ground hovering position must be spent slowly by eye, but a predetermined, possibly facilitated by mechanical guides 18 position can be approached quickly and after a short, by simultaneous triggering all four twist locks TL resulting waiting time, the container can be transported the same.

Of course, in a charging operation, the device can also be used differently, namely that corresponding twist locks TL in the stowage holders 16. already stand ready and lock by mounting the container independently in the mounting holes (which is the name-appropriate functionality of the twist locks TL, namely that they, although arranged at right angles to the mounting hole, rotate during insertion and then locked independently spring biased in a locking position) , Alternatively, space twist locks TL can lock controlled in a container.

Also in this process kinetic energy is used again to be introduced hydraulically or pneumatically by means of compressors as working energy in storage. Of course, it is also possible to work with external energy, and computer control can be provided to manage the stocking and removal of the twist locks TL, that is, to request more twist locks TL from a magazine 14, if necessary, or excess Numbers of twist locks TL to such a magazine 14 to be removed.

A particularly designed embodiment of such a magazine is shown in FIG. 5 in a schematic frontal view and in FIG. 6 in a schematic side view. In this case, the twist locks TL in the example shown are lined up for provision on containers on elongated, for example rod-like elements, wherein the elongated elements can be moved in the manner of a circulating conveyor belt. By this embodiment, it is possible to provide a high number of twist locks TL. In this case, the elements which receive the twist locks TL, if an element has delivered all its twist locks TL mounted on it to the removal device / screwing device 16, continue to rotate in such a way that a another element can deliver his stored on him twist locks TL to the screw 16. .

The method of operation with the device according to the invention is preferably designed such that the workflow is set up so that when a magazine 14 is completely emptied of twist locks TL, only containers are placed on the device in the following, which are freed from twist locks TL should be filled up to the magazine 14 again with twist locks TL. This is followed by an operation in which containers are to be equipped with Twist-Locks TL again.

Alternatively, however, the device may also be designed such that the magazines 14 are exchangeable and, for example, an access from the side of the device allows an empty magazine 14 to be replaced by a filled magazine 14 or vice versa. Such a replaceable magazine 14 preferably has, for example, pockets for accommodating a forklift fork.

Of course, an arrangement of two lashing platforms can be provided side by side to z. B. can be operated with a tandem spreader, a two containers simultaneously gripping and transporting gantry crane, or a twin tandem with four containers. Such an embodiment of the device according to the invention for a tandem spreader is shown in FIG. 7 in a schematic plan view (FIG. 7A), in a schematic side view (FIG. 7B) and in a schematic frontal view (FIG. 7C). To illustrate the spatial relationships, a container C is shown in addition to the device according to the invention, which is equipped with twist lock container security fittings TL.

Each stowage restrainer 16 consists of a rotary piston and a sleeve which via hydraulic or pneumatic means with a drive and a Ausschub in a laterally mounted, the Twist-Locks TL in substantially vertical or horizontal alignment bearing magazine 14 spends. Next also a helical, space-saving magazine guide is possible in addition to the above possibility.

Finally, it should be pointed out that in transshipment operations, for example, tides, strong winds or waves caused by shipping traffic ship movements, which sometimes necessitate a slight adjustment of the relative horizontal position of the container bridge to the lashing platform. This horizontal movement of the entire lashing platform or at least of the container C receiving support frame of the lashing platform can also be made possible by the stored energy in the compressors and be controlled automatically or manually.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the energy required for releasing and securing twist locks TL from or on a container C or for horizontal positioning of the platform can be obtained from that energy which is used in the invention Deposition of a container on the bellows 10 or hydraulic shock absorber 12 of the platform is free. Such a device increases the flexibility in the use of lashing platforms and at the same time increases the productivity in the handling operation of containers. , ^{r ■}

Claims

1. A device for inserting and removing twist-lock container securing fittings (TL), characterized by a ^' settling plate for containers (C) ₅ for each anticipated location of a twist-lock container security fitting (TL) a compressed air screwdriver ( 16) with a slot gripper.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by to each screw (16) provided magazines (14) for twist lock container security fittings (TL).

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the magazines (14) are formed as formed by oblique rods raceways, in which the twist lock container security fittings, (TL) vertically vertically mounted along the rods are verleitend vertically. ^'

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that below the receiving plate gas storage devices are provided which can be acted upon by the settling plate and a container placed thereon (C) with its gravity, wherein an electronic valve control for the forwarding of compressed gas in the gas storage facilities is connected via pipelines with a compressed gas storage, and other pipes connect this with the screwing (16).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the height of a container (C) superior, vertical corner guides at the vertical corner edges when lowering a container into the device gliding, the storage locations of the twist locks (TL) in the container (C) face the slot grippers.

6. A device for inserting twist lock container security fittings (TL), characterized by a settling plate for containers (C), for each anticipated location of a twist lock container security fitting (TL) a hydraulically operated screw means (16) a slot gripper has.

7. A method for removing twist-lock container security fittings (TL) from a container (C), characterized by

- depositing a container (C) on a spring-loaded in an upper position located, lowerable settling plate for containers (C), which for each twist-lock container security fitting (TL) a drachluftbetriebene Schraubeinrichtüng (16) with a slot gripper, and with Compressed air storage is provided, which deliver compressed air via lines to the, Druckluftschraubeinrichtungen (16) when lowering the plate,

wherein, at the end of the lowering operation, the screwing devices (16) have rotated the twistlock contamer securing fittings (TL) into a position no longer hanging on the container (C),

- Lifting the container (C), and

- Remove the twist-lock container securing fittings (TL) from the screw fittings (16).

8. A method for providing a container (C) with twist-lock container security fittings (TL), characterized by

Placing the twist-lock container securing fittings (TL) on the screwing devices (16),

- Setting down a container (C) on a spring-loaded in an upper position, lowerable settling plate for containers (C), which anticipated at each Location of a twist-lock container security fitting (TL) a compressed air screwdriver (16) with a twist-lock container security fitting (TL) on a slot gripper has, and is provided with compressed air storage, the compressed air via lines when lowering the plate deliver the Druckluftschraubeinrichtungen (16),

wherein, at the end of the lowering operation, the screwing devices (16) have turned the twistlock container securing fittings (TL) into a position hanging on the container (C),

Lift up the container (C) with the Twist-lock container securing fittings (TL) out of the chamfering devices (16).