EP2356017A1

EP2356017A1 - A method for load treatment of containers on board the cargo ship and a device making this

Info

Publication number: EP2356017A1
Application number: EP09826368A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hans SALÈN; Jonas Persson; Holger Schwenzer; Henrik Westermark
Original assignee: TTS Ships Equipment AB
Current assignee: TTS Marine AB
Priority date: 2008-11-14
Filing date: 2009-11-09
Publication date: 2011-08-17
Also published as: SE534440C2; WO2010056188A1; EP2356017A4; SE0802398A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for load treatment of containers (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) on board cargo ships (2) and when said containers (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) are received stacked in vertical supports (6) extending from the cargo space (7) of the ship. According to the invention, in connection with the loading or unloading of the ship (2) in question, a crane (10) or another lifting equipment is made to collect or place spreaders (11) for container load-carrying in said supports (6) from and in, respectively, bays (12) on board the ship (2) in question or ashore.

Description

A method for load treatment of containers on board the cargo ship and a device making this.

The present invention relates to a method for load treatment of containers at cargo ships and when said containers are received stacked in stacks between vertical supports extending from the cargo space of the ship and that, in connection with the loading or unloading of the ship in question, a crane or another lifting equipment is made to collect or place spreaders for container load-carrying between said vertical supports, carried by horizontal supports intended therefor on the ship. Load treatment of containers on board ships and upon loading and unloading between land and the ship in question and vice versa is usually carried out by means of cranes, so-called container cranes. Stacks of containers are kept aligned by vertical supports in the ship. The formed piles of containers must not be too high since then the lowermost containers would be compressed by containers stacked above. Normally, the deck or deck hatches of the ship function as support for an additional stack thereon. However, when such deck hatches are not provided or if the existing ones are not desired to be utilized, one has to find a solution that allows solving the above-mentioned problems reliably and efficiently as well as by simple means and that allows efficient treatment of containers and the appurtenant means therefor.

US 3,654,887 A shows the presence of such spreaders (14) as load-relieving for a stack of containers loaded in the ship. However, nothing is mentioned about efficient treatment of such previously known supporting spreaders. It is mentioned that the spreaders (14) are treated by a container crane, thus separately, which is not particularly expedient and time-saving.

The main object of the present invention is therefore primarily to solve said problems. Said object is attained by means of a method according to the present invention that essentially is characterized in that the lifting device of the crane, etc., is allowed to touchdown in said bays when a container having a load-carrying spreader carried underneath is lifted from the ship toward land or when a container, which an intended load- carrying spreader is intended to be connected with, is lifted toward the ship, and that container locking devices of the type that is intended to connect containers and/or load-carrying spreaders in the vertical direction, are arranged to be connected and disconnected, respectively, on desired occasions after operation, simultaneously the load-carrying spreader in question being allowed to be collected from or the load- carrying spreader in question being allowed to be placed in a bay situated along the side of the ship on board the ship in question.

The invention also relates to a device for carrying out a method for load treatment of containers on board cargo ships and when said containers are received stacked in vertical supports extending from the cargo space of the ship. In that connection, an additional problem is to find means that allow reliable and efficient stacking and treatment of containers upon loading and unloading, respectively, of the same and to reduce the manpower.

Said additional object is attained by means of a device according to the present invention that essentially is characterized in that a crane or another lifting equipment, which is arranged to lift spreaders for container-carrying and containers between the ship in question and land, comprises an intermediate bay for spreaders on board the ship in question in line with the path of motion of the crane, that a said bay is situated along the side of the cargo ship in question on the edge of deck, preferably in the form of a rack for stacking of the spreaders in, and that transducers and plunger cylinders are arranged to detect the arrival of a spreader and indicate that regulation of so-called "twistlocks" in the corners of the container and spreader in question is to be effected.

The invention is described below in the form of a preferred embodiment example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figs. 1 and 2 show examples of different load treatment of containers between a quay and a ship,

Figs . 3-4 show examples of stacking of containers on board a ship, transverse and longitudinal direction,

Fig. 5 shows a stack with spreaders and connected twistlocks,

Figs. 6-8 show examples of stack treatment by spreaders with locking devices therefor,

Fig. 9 shows a view from above of a stack of containers with the topmost spreader,

Fig. 10 show further examples of a spreader as seen in perspective in stacking state on board a ship, Figs. 11-12 show examples of spreaders, separate and in stack, respectively, in spreader bays, and

Fig. 13 shows spreaders having a further lock function.

According to the invention, which relates to a method for load treatment of containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ on board cargo ships 2 and more precisely when said containers are received stacked in rows 3, 3¹, 3²,...3ⁿ transverse 8 to the length extension 4 of the ship and in longitudinal rows 5, 5¹, 5²,...5ⁿ along the length extension 4 of the ship in stacks 9, 9¹, 9²,...9ⁿ in vertical supports 6 extending in the upward direction from the cargo space 7 of the ship, in connection with the loading or unloading of the ship 2 in question, a crane 10 or another suitable lifting equipment is made to collect or place and drop off spreaders 11 for container- carrying in said supports 6 from and in, respectively, bays 12 on board the ship 2 in question. Thereby, the great advantage is gained that it is not needed to lift and transport extra between the different storage spaces 13 on the quay 14 and on board the ship 2. Instead, the load of the crane can be allowed to touchdown on said bays 12 in order to collect and drop off, respectively, spreaders 11 upon loading and upon unloading, respectively, of the ship 2 in question. It is also always possible to keep the bay of the spreaders 11 in question on board the ship and not occupy expensive cargo space on the quay 14 but utilize, e.g., a space in the form of a portion of the side-deck 15 of the ship 2 along one side 16 of the ship or both sides 16, 17 thereof. Accordingly, the crane 10 is allowed to touchdown by the lifting device thereof in a said bay 12 when a container 1 is intended to be moved thereby and there is a carried spreader 11 thereon for delivery, or when it is desired to connect a spreader 11 with a container 1 that is on its way to be lifted on board the ship 2. Normally, six containers are put stacked upward in the ship between the supports 6 before a spreader 11 needs to be connected with a further container 1 that is intended to be put on intended supports 51 above said formed stack 9 from the level 18 at the area of the deck 15 of the ship and where loading hatches are lacking on the ship 2. For the connection, container locking devices 19 are utilized that preferably are of the type that is intended to detachably connect containers 1 with each other or with a lifting beam, so-called twistlock, carryable by a container crane. Said locking devices 19, which are inserted into holes 20 situated at the corner sections of the containers 1, I¹, I², ... lⁿ, interconnect containers and/or load-carrying spreaders 11 in the vertical direction, and are arranged to be connectable and disconnectable, respectively, on desired occasions after operation and actuation.

Said operation and actuation can be effected by means of a number of sensors 22, magnets and lock cylinders situated at the area of the containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ and the bay 12 so as to sense the positions of the respective load- carrying spreaders 11 and containers 1 and so as to be able to regulate the appurtenant lock cylinders to be brought into the desired positions, such as open and closed state, respectively.

Mutual actuation of a plurality of lock cylinders can then be provided by a connecting actuation mechanism, or that a lock cylinder, which is situated right opposite a bayed spreader 11 on the correct horizontal level, said spreader 11 actuate the locking device 19 in question. A number of sensors 22 may, for instance, be carried by, e.g., a transverse beam 81 of said upright bays 12 and that, e.g., magnets may be carried by the spreaders 11, wherein said sensor/sensors 22 may be arranged to detect when a spreader passes the same in the upward and downward direction, respectively. Should there be utilized automatically activatable so-called twistlocks 19, which are arranged to work to activate and lock together a spreader 11 with a container 1 that is put down on the spreader 11 in the bay 12, indication and detection of the positions of spreader 11 need only to be effected when the spreader 11 and a connected container 1 is lowered down into the bay 12, so as then be disconnectable from each other. It is also possible to allow operating devices to activate locking devices 19 from within a spreader 11 in question, and locking devices 19 may be permanently carried by the spreader and that open the locking devices 19 on the desired occasion.

Common to the spreaders 11 is that they all permanently carry locking devices 19 in the connected locking state as well as in the disconnected state.

A warning device 25, for instance a lamp of the type that is denominated "cherry", may be arranged to warn in certain situations of a stack of containers, etc., or indicate that indication and locking or disconnection is ready.

In order not to damage subjacent cargo in containers that are stacked with one container 1 on the other container I¹, etc., for instance, disc-shaped said load- carrying spreaders 11 are utilized at every 6^th or 7^th container in each stack 9, 9¹, 9²,...9ⁿ that is loaded into the cargo space 7 on board the ship 2, i.e., on the level 18 of the deck of the ship. A device 50 intended to be applied so as to be able to carry out a method of the above-mentioned type for load treatment of containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ on board cargo ships 2, and when said containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ are arranged to be stackable in vertical supports 6 on board the ship 2 and extending from the cargo space 7 of the ship, comprises, among other things, a bay 12 for spreaders 11 on board the ship in question. A said bay 12 is utilized when a crane or another suitable lifting equipment, which is arranged to lift spreaders 11 for container-carrying on horizontal supports 51 intended therefor and containers 1 between the ship 2 in question and a quay 14 ashore with an intermediate bay 12 for spreaders 11 on board the ship 2 in question, in position with the intended path of motion 52 of the crane for the loading and the unloading, respectively. Then, no waste of time for unnecessary tilting, etc., arises thanks to said device 50.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, respectively, there are shown by lines how load treatment can be effected upon collection and dropping off, respectively, of container 1 and spreader, respectively. In Fig. 1, the treatment is considerably more efficient.

A said bay 12 is arranged on the side edge of the deck 15 of the ship 2 in line with the load motion path 52 of the crane, along one or both sides 16, 17 of the ship in question.

A said bay 12, which is shown in the drawings in, among others, Fig. 7, is preferably in the form of a so- called rack that is formed of supports along the circumference of the vertical path of motion which spreaders 11 are intended to be laid into the bay 12 and lifted from the bay 12, respectively, by means of the crane 10.

By suitable transducers 24 and sensors 22 on containers 1, spreaders 11, and the ship 2 as well as by means of plunger cylinders, and which are arranged to regulate so- called "twistlocks" 19 or other suitable container locking devices for connection in the corners with containers 1 and spreaders 11 in intended holes 20 thereon, said rational treatment is allowed. Furthermore, plunger cylinders in question are arranged to activate the twistlocks 19 after a certain determined time, for instance 5 s, and that a signal, for instance a lamp 25, is arranged to indicate that activation has occurred, for instance locking, whereupon the crane 10 can be operated to proceed loading/unloading of containers.

Accordingly, when it is time to load the 7^th or 8^th container in the stack that are going to be formed in vertical load supports 6 intended therefor on board the ship 2, the crane is actuated to move in a loading path 52 from the quay 14 and the intended cargo storage space 13 thereon to said bays 12 for spreaders 11 where such a one is connected with the bottom part of the carried container in question by so-called twistlocks 19, whereupon the loading rapidly continues along the same path 52 to the storage space for the spreader 11 having a container 1 carried thereon, whereupon continued stacking of collected containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ continues until the desired height has been attained also above deck. Accordingly, it will not become any considerably extra load treatment to get the spreader 11 in place. The reverse order applies to unloading of the ship with containers 1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ and spreaders 11. By the bay 12 being on board the ship 2, it is no problem if the ship 2 arrives empty to an intended loading quay 14 to load containers onto the ship. Then, spreaders 11 are always brought by the ship 2.

It is possible to utilize twistlocks that are of the kind that is spring-loaded, so-called semiautomatic, which upon lowering of a container against the spreader automatically connects the container and spreader with each other. Disconnection can be effected by the cylinders mentioned or in an electric manner, or in another suitable way by suitable means therefor.

Below, there are described further examples of solutions of intended problems:

Preliminary Result

We concluded that the hardware could consist of the following: * A 40'CFP (Container Foot Plate) approx 2 t weight and 200 mm high. The CFP should contain no intelligence, nor any hydraulic or electrical components. * A CFPR (Container Foot Plate Rack) preferably to be fitted on the ship, in line with the bay it serves.

- This to always have the hardware onboard the ship, and not be left in port, - This to get short/in line moving distance for the crane.

- This to reduce the need for mobile electric power or power from the port to the CFPR this can now simply be fed from ship MSB.

* A one level fixed support in the cell guides for the CFP at designated level.

Function description

Loading of the 7^th container.

1. The container crane drops off the 6^th container in the ship.

2. On the way back, the crane takes another container to the quay most likely.

3. On the quay, crane connects the spreader to the 7^th container as usual.

4. Crane lifts up the container and smoothly places this one down in the CFPR on the ship.

5. The CFPR detects that an empty container (without a CFP) is sliding in the guides, down to the CFP' s. 6. By some automatic signal the CFP' s twist locks are turned to "Lock", this maybe after a time constant of approx 5 sek.

7. A green light is lit and the crane operator knows that connecting procedure is OK.

8. Crane operator lifts the container with the attached CFP to its position in the ship.

9. Crane operator can clearly see that container footplate is attached due to the 0,2m excess in its ends. Unloading of the 7^th container

1. The container crane connect the 7^th container 1 as usual, this time also with a CFP at the bottom. 2. Crane lifts up the container and smoothly places this one down in the CFPR on the ship.

3. The CFPR detects that a loaded container (with CFP) is sliding in the guides, down to the other CFP' s or the empty rack. 4. By some automatic signal the CFP' s twist locks 19 are turned to "unlock", this maybe after a time constant of approx

5 sec.

5. Yet again, a green light is lit and the crane operator knows that disconnecting procedure is OK. 6. Crane operator lifts the container without the CFP to its position at the quay.

7. Crane operator can clearly see the container footplate is detached due to the 0,2 m excess in its ends.

Technical data

1. 7 x 9,6" containers also possible with 8 * 8' containers, maybe only 6 to be under stopper?

2. 6 x 30 t containers with a 60:40 load gives 126 t reaction force on each side of CFP

3. Support in cell guide to be max -0,2 m from reaction force with induce a static bending moment of 12 tm in each end.

4. Each bay is 13 containers wide.

5. 11 bays equals 11 CFPR' s with 13 CFP in each 6. One CFP would have to be approx 200 mm high => Rack total height 2800 mm 7. STD container width is 2435 mm 8. 45' containers can be positioned on a 40' container due to a 40' footprint, also a 45' footprint.

Miscellaneous

* There are three types of manual stopper.

- Fold a beam over the corner 45 deg, and rest on a support.

- Swing/rotate a support, 90 deg

- Hang on/off type, a detachable unit. - All which per today requires by hand operation and all which can be made automatic by means of electric or hydraulic actuators .

* For oversized container the thickness of the guide T-plate has to be wider, also for longitudinal supports, this was seen on known container vessels. Foot print for such container was assumed to be of STD 40' type.

Intelligent VS Unintelligent system

In the Figs is a straight comparison of unloading two containers in the same stack (the 7^th and the 6^th) with two different systems. In Fig. 1 the system described above. In Fig. 2 is the alternative two described.

A non intelligent rack version

1. With standard twist locks on a CFP locks have to be disengaged manually during unloading procedure.

2. With standard twist locks on a CFP it is enough with one manual twist lock engagement for all CFP in the stack. If the

CFP is not connected to each other and stored in a CFPR, see picture below. All twist locks can be turned/pulled at the same time? 3. A non intelligent rack can be lifted by crane and positioned on the quay, port staff can assist during unloading of 7^th container, to get the CFP off from the container (turn the twist locks) .

The spreaders 11 may also have an additional function. If, e.g., there is a risk that certain cargo spaces 200 can be filled with water and thereby can cause the ship 202 in question to break down and become wrecked, it is now also possible to utilize the spreaders 211 in question as waterproof loading hatches. Seals 275 can then be arranged along the circumference of the spreader 211 in question. The function of load carrying according to the above mentioned may be the same for the combined load-carrying and cover-forming spreader 211 in question that is shown as examples in Figs. 13-15.

The invention should have been clearly described as regards the design and function thereof.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an equivalent technology, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

K78 P49PCT LG/KOEC l a i m s

1. Method for load treatment of containers (1, I¹,

I²,...lⁿ) at cargo ships (2) and when said containers (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) are received stacked in stacks between vertical supports (6) extending from the cargo space (7) of the ship and that, in connection with the loading or unloading of the ship (2) in question, a crane (10) or another lifting equipment is made to collect or place spreaders (11) for container load- carrying between said vertical supports (6), carried by horizontal supports intended therefor on the ship (2), characterized in that the lifting device of the crane (10), etc., is allowed to touchdown in said bays (12) when a container (1) having a load-carrying spreader (11) carried underneath is lifted from the ship (2) toward land (14) or when a container (1), which an intended load-carrying spreader (11) is intended to be connected with, is lifted toward the ship (2), and that container locking devices (19) of the type that is intended to connect containers and/or load-carrying spreaders (11) in the vertical direction, are arranged to be connected and disconnected, respectively, on desired occasions after operation, simultaneously the load-carrying spreader (11) in question being allowed to be collected from or the load- carrying spreader (11) in question being allowed to be placed in a bay (12) situated along the side (16, 17) of the ship on board the ship (2) in question.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by means of sensors (22), the positions of the respective load-carrying spreaders (11) are allowed to be detected and the appurtenant regulating means, e.g., locking plunger cylinders are regulated to the desired positions, and which are arranged to regulate so-called "twistlocks" (19) or other suitable container locking devices for connection in the corners (21) with containers (1) and spreaders (11) in intended holes (20) thereon.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that disc-shaped load-carrying spreaders (11) are utilized at every 6^th or 7^th container (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) in each stack (9, 9¹, 9²,...9ⁿ).

4. Device (50) for carrying out a method for load treatment of containers (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) at cargo ships (2) and when said containers (1, I¹, I²,...lⁿ) are received stacked in vertical supports (6) extending from the cargo space (7) of the ship according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a crane (10) or another lifting equipment, which is arranged to lift spreaders (11) for container-carrying and containers (1) between the ship (2) in question and land, comprises an intermediate bay (12) for spreaders (11) on board the ship (2) in question in line with the path of motion (52) of the crane, that a said bay (12) is situated along the side (16, 17) of the cargo ship in question on the edge of deck (15) , preferably in the form of a rack for stacking of the spreaders (11) in, and that transducers and plunger cylinders are arranged to detect the arrival of a spreader (11) and indicate that regulation of so-called "twistlocks" (19) in the corners of the container (1) and spreader (11) in question is to be effected.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that plunger cylinders in question or other regulating means, preferably electric or hydraulic operatable, are arranged to activate the twistlocks (19), for instance, after a certain determined time, for instance 5 s, and that a signal, for instance a lamp (25) , is arranged to indicate that activation has occurred, for instance locking, whereupon the crane (10) can be operated.

6. Device according to any one of claims 4-5, characterized in that spreaders (211) in addition have cover- forming function at the cargo spaces (200) of ships (202), and that preferably seals (275) are arranged along the circumference of cargo space (200) and/or spreader (211) .