GB2111023A

GB2111023A - Container handling equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2111023A
Application number: GB08231845A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Wadsworth
Original assignee: Northern Engineering Industries PLC
Current assignee: Rolls Royce Power Engineering PLC
Priority date: 1981-12-02
Filing date: 1982-11-08
Publication date: 1983-06-29
Also published as: GB2111023B

Abstract

Container handling equipment has a base (10) on which two supports are mounted. The supports each have a fixed part secured to the base and a second part (42) movable relatively to the fixed part transversely of the base. First assemblies (44, 46) are mounted on the second part of the supports and second assemblies (50, 52, 54) are carried by the first assemblies. A main beam (18), which has hoist means, is carried by the second assemblies and a lift beam (22) is carried by the hoist means. The lift beam has connectors engageable with a container (24). The first assemblies are operable simultaneously to raise or lower the main beam. The second assemblies are operable simultaneously to move the main beam laterally either side of the base. The base can be mounted on wheels for rail or road usage, suitable stabilizers (36) being provided, or on a ship. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container handling equipment The invention relates to container handling equipment.

Container handling equipment according to the invention comprises a base, two supports carried by the base and movably simultaneously laterally of the base, two first assemblies carried by respective supports, two second assemblies carried by respective first assemblies each extensible laterally of the base, a main beam carried by the second assemblies, hoist means supported by the main beam, and a lift beam carried by the hoist means and having connectors engageable with a container, the first assemblies being operable simultaneously to raise or lower the main beam and the second assemblies being operable simultaneously to move the main beam sideways.

The equipment is suitable for use as rail-mounted equipment; for use mounted on road wheels; or for use on board ships either as static or as mobile equipment.

Container handling equipments will now be described by way of example to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a first form of equipment for railway use, showing the equipment in running order and working order, respectively; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the equipment as shown in Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively a side elevation and a plan of a second form of equipment for railway use; and Figure 6 is an end elevation of the equipment shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figures 1 to 3 show equipment for railway use, for handling containers.

The equipment consists of the following main parts: a base 10; two supports 12 carried by the base 10; two first assemblies 14 carried by respective supports 12; two second assemblies 16 carried by respective first assemblies 14; a main beam 18 carried by the second assemblies 16; hoist means (not shown completely) including ropes 20; a lift beam 22 carried by the ropes 20; and connectors (not shown) on the lift beam 22 engageable with containers 24 (Figures 2 and 3).

The base 10 in this example is mounted on two bogies 26 each having three pairs of flanged wheels 28 so that the equipment can run on raiis 30. The base 10 carries a power unit 32 including a hydraulic power pack (not shown), the unit 32 driving wheels 28 on one of the bogies 26 so that the equipment is self-propelled. The equipment is suitable for running unladen in a train. The equipment is operable by an operator by controls (not shown) in a cab 34.

The equipment is operable typically as described below.

The equipment runs unladen in the condition shown in Figure 1 to a destination in a train carrying containers 24 on flat wagons, some of which containers, for example the two containers 24 shown in Figure 2, are to be transferred at the destination from the train to a lorry, say. During running the lift beam 22 is stowed secured to the base 10. At the destination the equipment is uncoupled from the train and runs under its own power onto a siding alongside the train (Figures 2 and 3). Outrigger supports 36 (Figure 3) are set.

The lift beam 22 is raised to a position adjacent the main beam 18. The supports 12 are extended transversely of the base 10 towards the train and the first assemblies 14 are extended to raise the beams 18 and 22. The second assemblies 16 are extended to position the beams 18 and 22 over the containers 24.

The hoist is operated to lower the lift beam 22 and to engage the connectors on the beam 22 with the containers 24. The hoist is operated to raise the containers 24 off the car. The second assemblies are retracted to move the beams 18 and 22 and the containers 24 sideways away from the train towards the base 10.

If required, the containers can be lowered onto the base 10 by operating the hoist after which the equipment can run along its rails to a different position, for example into a warehouse or towards a container lorry.

The containers 24 are transferred to the lorry or other position by sideways movement, either as a continuation of the sideways movement just described by which the containers were transferred from the train or after the containers have been hoisted again off the base 10.

The containers are transferred to the lorry by extension of the supports 12 and by extension of the second assemblies 16. The containers 24 are finally lowered by the hoist ropes 20 onto the lorry and the connectors are disengaged. The hoist is operated to raise the lift beam 22.

The beams 18 and 22 are moved sideways again by retraction of the supports 12 and the second assemblies 16. The first assemblies 14 are retracted to lower the beams 18 and 22. The beam 22 is lowered by the hoist and stowed on the base 10. The equipment runs back to recouple with the train.

The supports 12 and the assemblies 14 and 16 are operable as or by hydraulic rams. The supports 12 each consist of a fixed part 40 and a second part 42 movable endwise in relation to the part 40 while supported by the part 40, which is secured to the base. A ram (not shown) interconnects the two parts.

The part 42 in each case carries an assembly 14.

Each assembly 14 consists of two three-part telescopic columns 44, one at each end of the part 42, and two hydraulic rams 46 arranged adjacent respective columns 44. Figures 1 to 3 partly omit the columns 44 and rams 46, which in each assembly 14 are relatively offset longitudinally of the base 10.

Each assembly 16 consists of three telescopically arranged members 50, 52 and 54, the member 50 in each case being carried on the columns 44,46.

The equipment shown in Figures 4 to 6 is generally similar to that just described and directly corresponding parts have the same reference numerals as used in Figures 1 to 3.

Instead of the outriggers 36 the equipment has primary jacks including horizontal beams 60 engageable with rail sleepers and four main jacks 62, two on each side of the base 10, which are pivotally connected at 64 to respective supports 66 corresponding to the supports 12 shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Instead of the columns 44 and rams 46, the first assemblies 70 are each made up of two pairs of links 72,74 and 76, 78 which pairs have respective hydraulic rams 80 and 82. Each link is of twin arm form (Figure 4). The links 74 and 78 are pivotally connected to the support 66 at 84, 86 respecitvely.

The links 72, 74 of one pair of pivotally connected at 88 and the links of the pair 76,78 are pivotally connected at 90. The links 72,76 are pivotally connected at 92,94 respectively to the part 100 of the three parts 100, 102, 104 of the second assembly 105, corresponding to the parts 50, 52 and 54, respectiveliy shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The ram 80 has a cylinder pivotally connected at 106 to the link 74 and a piston rod pivotally connected at its end to the pivot 92. The ram 82 has a cylinder pivotally connected at 108 to the link 78 and a piston rod pivotally connected at its end to the pivot 94.

The pivotal connections at 88 and 90 are free to rise and fall with extension and retraction of the rams 80 and 82, respectively. The rams 80 and 82 move with the links 74 and 78, respectively, turning about their respective pivotal mountings at 106 and 108 at the same time. The link arrangements pro ducevertical movement of the part 100 somewhat greater than the travel of pistons of the rams relatively to their cylinders. The lift available is sufficient to enable the equipment to stack containers two high if required (Figure 6).

The jacks 60 and 62 are set to give stability to the equipment while containers are being handled. The jacks do not act to raise the equipment.

Figure 6 shows in ghost outline the telescopically interconnected parts 100,102 and 104 at their maximum height corresponding to stacking containers two high, two such being indicated in part at 112.

The maximum height of the position of the main beam 18 is indicated by ghost outline in Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows at 114 two hoist mechanisms supported by the main beam 18 which have respective pairs of ropes 120 passing over pulleys 122 on the main beam 18 and down to the lift beam 22. The lift beam 22 is shown secured to a container 24 and is also shown in ghost outline in its stowed position on the base 10 for unladen travel of the equipment.

The lift beam 22 has connections 124 by which the hoist ropes 120 are connected to the beam. The connections 124 are mounted in guides extending longitudinally of the beam and the beam is movable longitudinally relatively to the connections 124 by hydraulic rams 126 operable simultaneously. Such longitudinal movement of the beam 22 enables the position of a container 24 to be adjusted longitudinally as it is lowered onto a lorry or other support.

Figure 5 shows further details of the hoist mechanism 114. Each comprises for each rope 120 two pairs of pulleys 128,130 around which the rope 120 is reeved. The pairs of pulleys 128, 130 are interconnected by a hydraulic ram the cylinder 132 of which is shown operable to move the pair of pulleys 128 longitudinally of the beam 22 so as to take up or let out rope 120.

Each pair of pulleys 122 is shown mounted on the cylinder 134 of a respective hydraulic ram extending transversely of the beam 22. The ram has a fixed piston rod 136. The two rams are operable simultaneously but in opposite senses, so that as shown in ghost outline in Figure 5 the position of the beam 22 can be angularly adjusted about a vertical axis by some 4 degrees in either sense to facilitate angular adjustment of a container 24 as it is lowered into position on a lorry.

The hoist mechanisms and facilities for longitudinal and angular adjustments of containers just described can be used in equipment as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

Operation The sequence of operation of the equipment shown in Figures 4 to 6 is as follows from the point where the equipment has been positioned alongside a train carrying containers, one or more of which are to be transferred from the respective wagon or wagons: 1. Lower Primary Jacks 80 2. Hoist Life Beam 22 From Base 3. Raise Main Beam 18 4. Extend Supports 66 & Lower Jacks 62 5. Set Jacks 62 6. Extend Assemblies 105 7. Lower Lift Beam 22 On To Container 24 8. Adjust Longitudinal And Angular Setting 9. Engage Twistlocks 10. Life Container 24 11. Retract Assemblies 105 12. Lift Jacks 62 13. Retract Supports 66 and Extend at Opposite Side and Lower Jacks 62 14. SetJacks62 15. Extend Assemblies 106 16. Adjust Longitudinal and Angular Setting 17. Lower Lift Beam 22 18. Disengage Twistlocks 19. Raise Lift Beam 22 20. Retract Assemblies 105 21. Lift Jacks 62 22. Retract Supports 66 23. Lower Lift Beam 22 to Base 10 24. Raise Primary Jacks 60.

Such a sequence can be effected in some two minutes and can be controlled entirely from the operator's cab.

Claims

1. Container handling equipment comprising a base, two supports carried by the base and movable simultaneously laterally of the base, two first assemblies carried by respective supports, two second assemblies carried by respective first assemblies each extensible laterally of the base, a main beam carried by the second assemblies, hoist means supported by the main beam and a lift beam carried by the hoist means and having connectors engageable with a container, the first assemblies being operable simultaneously to raise or lower the main beam, and the second assemblies being operable simultaneously to move the main beam sideways.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, in which the first assemblies each comprise two telescopic columns and two hydraulic rams arranged adjacent respective columns.

3. Equipment according to claim 1, in which the first assemblies each comprise two pairs of links which have respective hydraulic rams, the links of each pair being pivotally connected at one end to one another and at their other ends to the support and the second assembly, respectively, the ram being operable to move the pivotal connections of the respective pair on the support and the second assembly away from and towards one another.

4. Equipment according to any preceding claim, in which the second assembly comprises telescopically-arranged members.

5. Equipment according to any preceding claim, in which the hoist means comprises two hoist mechanisms which have respective pairs of ropes passing over first pulleys on the main beam and down to the lift beam.

6. Equipment according to claim 5, in which the hoist mechanisms each comprise for each rope two pairs of second pulleys around which the rope is reeved, one of the two pairs being movable relative to the other to take up or let out rope.

7. Equipment according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the first pulleys of the rope pairs are movable transversely of the main beam in opposite senses to turn the lift beam about a vertical axis.

8. Equipment according to claim 5, claim 6 or claim 7, in which the lift beam has connection means by which the ropes are connected to the beam, the connection means being mounted in guides extending longitudinally of the beam, the beam being movable longitudinally relative to the connection means.

9. Equipment according to any preceding claim, in which the base is mounted on wheels whereby the equipment is mobile.

10. Container handling equipment according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Container handling equipment according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. Container handling equipment according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.