GB2321897A

GB2321897A - Equipment for the handling of freight containers

Info

Publication number: GB2321897A
Application number: GB9702362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Edward Blackstone; Geoffrey Hugh Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-05
Filing date: 1997-02-05
Publication date: 1998-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-05
Also published as: GB2321897B; GB9702362D0

Abstract

Equipment is provided for handling containers involving: travelling; lifting; placing into racks and removal from racks without disturbing any adjacent containers. A pair of handling machines (only one shown) is provided to handle one container. The distance between the machines may be changed in order to accommodate container different length e.g. by means of a number of adjustable links 16,18. Each machine has a vertically movable lifting carriage 7 carrying container handling attachments such as twist locks 12 on a spreader 11 slidable on an intermediate beam 10 in turn slidable on a fixed base beam 10 so that a container can be inserted into and extracted from a racking system (not shown). The machines can have wheels for travelling or move on rail systems 3, 15. A control system is provided that incorporates a data link between the pair of machines so that the movements may be co-ordinated or varied as required.

Description

Equipment for the handling of freight containers and other unit loads.

This invention relates to the handling and storage of freight containers, in particular to freight containers incorporating standard corner fittings.

There are a number of handling and storage methods associated with such containers that are in use at present.

Standard freight containers are constructed in such a manner that said containers may be stacked one upon another. In order to minimise the yard area covered by a given number of freight containers it is usual practice to store one upon another in vertical stacks containing a number of containers.

Problems may arise when a container has to be removed from such a stack since only the topmost container is accessible. These problems may be overcome if the containers are supported by an interposing structure such that each container is supported independently of all the other containers in a given vertical stack.

The said interposing structure is often termed a 'rack'. Such racks are well known for the storage of unit loads. Usually said unit loads are smaller and lighter than any of the intercontinental freight containers. Each part of the said rack into which a unit load or container may be placed is termed a 'cell'.

In the case of the storage of freight containers the racks need to be specially adapted in order to support the said containers by the lower four corner fittings alone. It follows that the said container can only be placed into, or removed from, a rack cell by supporting and moving said container by the upper four corner fittings. It is a key requirement that lifting equipment must be specially constructed to support the container in such a manner.

Freight containers in current use may be of different lengths, widths, and heights. It is a key requirement that any equipment used for the handling of such containers must be especially adapted to accommodate such differing dimensions.

In normal construction the key requirements set out in the preceding paragraphs give rise to a handling machine that is both large and complex.

According to the present invention there is provided a pair of handling machines wherein the said pair of handling machines are linked together by a link or links wherein the effective length of said link or links may be changed as required and wherein said handling machines each comprise a chassis incorporating a plurality of support wheels adapted to allow the said chassis to travel over a ground slab and wherein said chassis supports a mast structure to which a lifting carriage is slidably connected and wherein said handling machine incorporates a hoisting mechanism so arranged as to control the movement of said lifting carriage relative to said mast and wherein said lifting carriage has a fixed beam attached thereto wherein said fixed beam is slidably attached to an intermediate beam which in turn is slidably attached to a lifting beam and wherein said beams are further connected by a traversing mechanism whereby said beams may be moved one relative to the other in a predetermined manner and wherein said lifting beam incorporates a number of lifting devices adapted to cooperate with the upper corner fittings of an intercontinental freight container.

In a preferred embodiment the said link is formed by a rigid bar slidably connected to the chassis of both handling machines thereby allowing relative movement between the said link bar and the chassis of each of the said handling machines and wherein locking devices fixed to said chassis are provided which co-operate with a number of features on the said link bar whereby the said link bar can be locked in a fixed position relative to the chassis of each of the said handling machines thereby enabling the distance between the two handling machines to be maintained at one of a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby enabling the distance between both said lifting beams and each associated set of lifting devices to be maintained at one of a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby enabling the said pair of handling machines to handle said freight containers having a number of different but predetermined lengths.

In a further embodiment a link bar and locking devices having a similar arrangement to that which co-operates with the chassis of each handling machine is provided to enable the distance between the top of the mast of both said handling machines to be maintained at a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby maintaining the mast of one handling machine substantially parallel to the mast of the other handling machine.

In a further embodiment the said link bar or each of the two said link bars are formed of two parts normally joined with a coupling wherein said coupling may be released allowing the two parts of the said link bar to separate thereby enabling the two handling machines to move in an independent manner one relative to the other.

In a further embodiment the top of the mast of a handling machine has attached thereto a carriage incorporating a number of guide wheels which co-operate with a high level guide rail commonly fixed to adjacent rack structures or other structures of a substantially fixed position relative to the said ground slab thereby maintaining the associated mast in a near vertical orientation.

In a further embodiment the said pair of handling machines are equipped with a communication system whereby the movements and operation of the said pair of handling machines may be synchronised.

In a preferred embodiment of the communication system each machine is fitted with a device capable of transmitting and receiving electro magnetic waves.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is an isometric projection showing the essential feature of one of the pair of the handling machines.

For clarity the adjacent rack structure is omitted and the handling machine is shown without a freight container.

Figure 2 shows a pair of handling machines supporting a short freight container.

Figure 3 shows a pair of handling machines supporting a long freight container.

Figure 4 shows a detail of the lifting carriage and associated beams in the centred position.

Figure 5 shows a detail of the lifting carriage and associated beams extended to one side supporting a freight container.

The handling machine comprises a chassis assembly 1 running on a number of wheels 2. The wheels may run directly upon a ground slab (not shown in Figure 1) or be so formed as to run on rails 3. The chassis of the handling machine incorporates driving means in order that the vehicle may move relative to the ground slab in the direction of the arrows 4 and 5.

The chassis assembly 1 supports a mast assembly 6 wherein the mast assembly 6 is fixed in a secure manner to the chassis assembly 1. Slidably connected to the mast assembly 6 is a lifting carriage 7. A hoisting mechanism 8A and 8B is provided whereby the lifting carriage 7, and all parts and loads if any, may be caused to move relative to the mast assembly 6 in a substantially vertical direction.

Attached to the lifting carriage 7 is a fixed beam 9. Slidably attached to the fixed beam 9 is an intermediate beam 10. Slidably attached to the intermediate beam 10 is a lifting beam 11. A powered traversing mechanism (not shown in Figure 1 since said mechanism is contained within the beams and may be one of a number of well known mechanisms comprising chains and sprockets or racks and pinions) co-operates with the three beams so the beams may be traversed in a manner shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Close to each end of the lifting beam 11 are engaging devices 12 which co-operate with the corner fittings of a freight container (not shown in Figure 1). These devices are well known and normally termed 'twistlocks'. These engaging devices 12 are operated by a powered mechanism (not shown in Figure 1 which may be one of a number of known methods) in order to engage with or disengage from the said corner fittings integral with the freight container.

Close to the upper extremity of the mast assembly 6 a carriage assembly 13 is fixed.

Attached to the carriage assembly are a number of wheels 14 so arranged as to cooperate with a high level rail 15 securely attached to the adjacent rack structure which is not shown in Figure 1.

The handling machine shown in Figure 1 is one of a pair of machines arranged as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The chassis assembly of each handling machine is connected by a link bar 16 slidably attached to each chassis assembly. The link bar is equipped with a number of features (not shown) such as holes or slots which co-operates with a locking mechanism 17 such that the link bar 16 can be fixed at a number of positions relative to the chassis assembly 1. The other chassis assembly (not shown in Figure 1) is equipped in a similar manner to that described in the preceding paragraph. Therefore it is possible to maintain the two chassis assemblies at one of a number of predetermined distances one relative to the other.

In addition to the link bar 16 arrangement described in the preceding paragraph the pair of handling machines may be joined at high level by a further link bar 18 arranged to connect the respective carriage assembly 13 of both handling machines. A locking mechanism 19 similar to the locking mechanism 17 is fitted to each carriage assemble 13.

When it is required to change the distance between the pair of handling machines the locking mechanisms 17 and 19 are set to the unlocked mode, one handling machine is driven in the required direction relative to the other and when the desired distance is reached the locking mechanism(s) is set to the locked mode.

In order to co-ordinate the operation of both handling machines a data and control link is provided by installing a transmitter/receiving unit 20 installed on each chassis assembly 1.

The overall control of both handling machines may be by one of a number of well known methods.

The power supplies and data links to the pair of handling machines may be by one of a number of well known methods.

Claims

1. A pair of handling machines wherein the said pair of handling machines are linked together by a link or links wherein the effective length of said link or links may be changed as required and wherein said handling machines each comprise a chassis incorporating a plurality of support wheels adapted to allow the said chassis to travel over a ground slab and wherein said chassis supports a mast structure to which a lifting carriage is slidably connected and wherein said handling machine incorporates a hoisting mechanism so arranged as to control the movement of said lifting carriage relative to said mast and wherein said lifting carriage has a fixed beam attached thereto wherein said fixed beam is slidably attached to an intermediate beam which in turn is slidably attached to a lifting beam and wherein said beams are further connected by a traversing mechanism whereby said beams may be moved one relative to the other in a predetermined manner and wherein said lifting beam incorporates a number of lifting devices adapted to co-operate with the upper corner fittings of an intercontinental freight container.

2. Equipment as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said link is formed by a rigid bar slidably connected to the chassis of both handling machines thereby allowing relative movement between the said link bar and the chassis of each of the said handling machines and wherein locking devices fixed to said chassis are provided which co-operate with a number of features on the said link bar whereby the said link bar can be locked in a fixed position relative to the chassis of each of the said handling machines thereby enabling the distance between the two handling machines to be maintained at one of a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby enabling the distance between both said lifting beams and each associated set of lifting devices to be maintained at one of a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby enabling the said pair of handling machines to handle said freight containers having a number of different but predetermined lengths.

3. Equipment as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a link bar and locking devices having a similar arrangement to that which co-operates with the chassis of each handling machine is provided to enable the distance between the top of the mast of both said handling machines to be maintained at a number of different but predetermined distances and thereby maintaining the mast of one handling machine substantially parallel to the mast of the other handling machine.

4. Equipment as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the said link bar or each of the two said link bars are formed of two parts normally joined with a coupling wherein said coupling may be released allowing the two parts of the said link bar to separate thereby enabling the two handling machines to move in an independent manner one relative to the other.

5. Equipment as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the top of the mast of a handling machine has attached thereto a carriage incorporating a number of guide wheels which co-operate with a high level guide rail commonly fixed to adjacent rack structures or other structures of a substantially fixed position relative to the said ground slab thereby maintaining the associated mast in a near vertical orientation.

6. Equipment as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the said pair of handling machines are equipped with a communication system whereby the movements and operation of the said pair of handling machines may be synchronised.

7. Equipment as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the said communication system associated with each machine is fitted with a device capable of transmitting and receiving electro magnetic waves.

8. Equipment substantially as described by way of example and shown in the Figures.