NZ198219A - Hoist geometry for side loading platform - Google Patents

Description

198219 NEW ZEALAND No.: 198,219 Date: 31st August 1981 "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HOIST GEOMETRY" JK/We, ANCHOR-DORMAN LIMITED, a New Zealand company, of Rogers & Graham Streets/ Port Nelson, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which Xx/ We pray that a patent may be granted to aaao&/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - —rr-o 1 982 1 The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to crane and hoist geometries and in particular to geometries suitable for use in conjunction with the side off-loading and reloading of containers.

With the advent of containerisation there is a need to provide platform or the like mounted hoist or crane mechanisms capable of supporting a frame or the like capable of being lowered down onto the tops of containers such that a container when engaged therewith can then be lifted and 10 moved. A particular application is on railway wagons or truck decks to provide a capability of self loading and self unloading. Such an ability is of particular importance with railway wagons where a container is to be off-loaded onto a station platform or a truck vehicle at a vicinity where no forklift or other crane equipment is available. Similarly the provision of such hoisting arrangements on the back of a vehicle provides a driver with the knowledge that he will have a small turnaround time at his destination or loading point.

Hoist and the like geometries have previously been sugggested capable of side off-loading a platform whether it be a platform in a true sense or a skeletal platform merely capable of receiving a container. No really suitable hoist or crane geometry has however as yet been devised which enables the off-loading of a container to either side of a platform. Such geometries as exist require the use of telescopic means which tend to be expensive or unreliable or 1982 19 the requirement that the hoist be rotatable on a mount relative to the truck or wagon deck. Such geometries are not fully appropriate and some alternative means is desirable which has the ability of providing a normal comprehensive range of movements to one side and at least a limited range of movements to the other side of the wagon.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means and/or methods which will go at least some way to meet some of the. abovementioned desiderata which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the present invention consists in a crane or hoist arrangement comprising: supporting means, a lower member pivoted to said supporting means so as to be capable of being raised and lowered about its pivot, a middle member pivoted to or adjacent the distal end of said lower member, a top member pivoted to or adjacent the distal end of said middle member, a first hydraulic ram connecting said supporting means to said lower member so as to be able when actuated of raising and lowering said lower member, a second hydraulic ram connecting said middle member to said supporting means and/or said lower member so as to be able to rotate said middle member about its pivot with said lower member, a third hydraulic ram connecting said middle member to said top member so as to be able to rotate said top member m^r 1 982 1 about its pivot with said middle member, means dependent from the distal end or adjacent the distal end of said top member capable of lifting a load, the construction and arrangement being such that said first hydraulic ram is positioned to approach said lower member to which it is pivoted from a different side in a vertical plane sense to that side from which said second hydraulic ram approaches said middle member, said third hydraulic ram relative to said middle and top members being disposed on 10 the same side relative to the top member and said middle members as said second member is disposed relative to said lower member, the pivotal connections of the various hydraulic rams and the members being such that on that side to which said second and third hydraulic rams are disposed the movement is such that the distal end and thus said means dependent from the distal end or adjacent the distal end can be lowered below the pivot point of said middle member from said lower member.

Preferably said second hydraulic member connects said 20 middle member to said lower member.

Preferably the connection of said first hydraulic means to said lower arm is at the pivot at which said middle member is connected to said lower member.

Preferably said second hydraulic ram is connected to a region of said middle arm some distance out from a line connecting the pivots by which the middle member is connected to the other arms.

Preferably the connection of said third hydraulic member b i';0218- 19 8219 to said second hydraulic member is inwardly with respect to said line between the pivots of said middle member when compared to the connection of said first hydraulic ram to said middle member.

Preferably said third hydraulic member is connected to said top member at a region some distance away from a line between the pivot of said top member and the distal end thereof.

Preferably said.means dependent from the distal end or 10 adjacent the distal end of said top member capable of lifting a load is or includes means pivoted at the distal end thereof about a pivot point parallel to all other pivots previously mentioned.

Preferably said means capable of lifting a load includes means capable of supporting a frame member or which supports at least in part a frame member capable of engaging with a container.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a structure which includes two hoist or crane arrangements in 20 accordance with the present invention positioned so as to be movable through in phase movements within parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of a container to be loaded onto or unloaded from said structure.

Preferably said means capable of lifting a load is engagable with the top of such container.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of loading or unloading or both a container using apparatus in accordance with the present invention. i n ? I /' Uu 1 982 In another aspect the present invention consists in a crane or hoist geometry substantially as hereinafter described.

The present invention also consists in apparatus in accordance with the present invention in operative combination with stabilising means as disclosed in our New Zealand Patent Specification No.198218.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in such a combination- or apparatus in accordance with the 10 present invention when mounted on a "platform" or other structure using a divergent longitudinal frame arrangement substantially as disclosed in our New Zealand Patent Specification No.198217.

One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention as it would be on for example for a truck when holding a container (not shown) in place during the 20 transportation thereof, the drawing showing the geometry from a direction normal to the plane previously mentioned, Figure 2 is a similar view to that of figure 1 but showing the preferred scope of movement of the crane or hoist arrangement in accordance with the present invention, the main pivotal mounting of said lower member from the supporting means (not shown in figure 2) being shown in figure 2 by an asterisk, figure 2 showing in a variety of positions a portion of a frame in dotted outline capable of 4^4 1 9 82 1 being suspended between the hoist or crane arrangement as depicted and a similar in phase structure longitudinally along the platform or structure so that a container is positioned between such arrangements and the arrangements can coact in phase to load and unload a container using the frame which is engagable with the top of the container, Figure 3 is a side view of an articulated truck showing a container held in position by cranes and hoists in accordance with the. present invention and which hoists or cranes are capable of acting in phase to off-load a container such as that depicted to either side of the deck of the truck, figure 2 showing the normal range of movements possible, figure 2 showing that on the side to which the second and third hydraulic rams are disposed a lowering completely to the ground from the truck would be possible while to the side as shown to the left in figure 2 a lowering to at least another truck or a railway vehicle would be possible, and Figure 4 is a plan view of the trailer unit of a tractor and trailer unit as shown in figure 3 but with the container removed for clarity showing how the hoists or cranes in accordance with the present invention can side off-load to either side and showing how stabilisers (there being four, two to each side) as disclosed in our New Zealand Patent Specification No.198218 filed simultaneously herewith can act to stabilise on that side to which the loading is to occur from or to which the unloading is to go, figure 4 also showing the divergent longitudinal members disclosed in our —ttott > 19821 New Zealand Patent Specification No.198217 filed simultaneously herewith.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 there can clearly be seen the main pivot 1 from the supporting structure 2, lower arm 3, its pivot 4 to the middle arm 5, the pivot 6 of the top member 7 to the middle arm, the first hydraulic ram 8 lowermost end of which is connected by a pivot 9 to the supporting structure 2, the hydraulic ram arrangement 8 having its other end connected to the pivot 4, hydraulic ram 10 10 pivoted at 11 to the lower arm 3 and pivoted at the other end 12 to the middle member 5, the hydraulic ram 13 pivoted at 14 to the middle arm 5 and also to the top member 7 at pivot point 15. As can be seen pivot point 11 is preferably on the member 3. Preferably the members 3, 5 and 7 are formed as channel or box section members with any the opening of the channel disposed to that side with respect to the plane of the figures in which the hydraulic rams 10 and 13 lie.

The means for supporting a load preferably includes a 20 member 16 which is best seen in figure 2 which is pivoted about pivot point 17 and carries by means of flexible supports 18 a frame 19 having means 20 capable of locking into receiving sockets or the equivalent on the top of a conventional container. Turning to figures 3 and 4 it can be seen that the two hoists act in phase support by means of strops or the like (best seen in figure 4) from the means 16 a structure 19 having its longitudinal extending frame member 21. Container 22 can clearly be seen in figure 3. - 8 1 982 Also shown in figures 3 and 4 are the divergent framing members 23 previously mentioned. Also shown are stabilising structures 24 and 25 (stabilising structure 25 being shown with its foot extended outwardly and positioned down a ground level), the arcuate dotted line in figure 4 showing how the foot 26 of the stabiliser can be rotated substantially as disclosed in our New Zealand Patent Specification No.198218 filed simultaneously herewith. Other stabilising arrangements are shown, these being 27 and 10 28 respectively. Stabiliser 27 is shown showing the foot 29 thereof rotated 90° from its normal position. Also seen in figures 3 and 4 are of course the crane and hoist structures of the present invention. For simplicity however reference numerals are kept to a minimum and merely the top member 7 is designated in figure 4. In figure 3 the middle member 5 is designated.

On the basis of the foregoing therefore it can be seen that the present invention provides means and/or methods suitable for use in the loading and unloading of containers 20 to either side of a container carrying platform or one is to receive a container. In this sense of course especially having regard to figure 4 platform is used in the broadest sense. 198&1 &

Claims (5)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS trC

1. A cranej>P^hoist arrangement comprising: JV* £7 ^ supporting means;X°i^;a lower member pivoted to said supporting means so as to be capable of being raised and lowered about its pivot,;a middle member pivoted to or adjacent the distal end of said lower member,;a top member pivoted to or adjacent the distal end of said middle member,;a first hydraulic ram connecting said supporting means to said lower member to raise and lower said lower member,;a second hydraulic ram connecting said middle member to said supporting means and/or said lower member to rotate said middle member about its pivot with said lower member,;a third hydraulic ram connecting said middle member to said top itV;le member to rotate said top member about j/C pivot with said middl< member,;means dependent from the distal end or adjacent the distal end of ^ said top member capable of lifting a load, the construction and arrangement being such that said first hydraulic ram is positioned to approach said lower member to which it is pivoted from a different side in a vertical plane sense to that side from which said second hydraulic ram approaches said middle member, said third hydraulic ram relative to said middle and top members being disposed on;-10-;' 5 MAY19853;3s;198219;the same side relative to the top member and said middle member as said second member is disposed relative to said lower member, the pivotal connections of the • various hydraulic rams and the members being such that on that side to which said second and third hydraulic rams are disposed the movement is such that the distal end and thus said means dependent from the distal end or adjacent the distal end can be lowered below the pivot point of said middle member from said lower member.;10

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second hydraulic ram connects said maddle member to said lou/er member;

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connection of said first hydraulic ram to said lower member is at the" pivot at which said middle member is connected to said lou/er member.;

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said second hydraulic ram is connected to a region of said middle members some distance out from a'line;20 connecting the pivots by which the middle member is connected to the other arms.;

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connection of said third hydraulic member to said" second hydraulic member is inwardly with respect to said line between the pivots of said middle member when compared to the connection of said first hydraulic ram to said middle member.;; v . An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding;J H;}i v;<;<# •. - ii -;198219;claims wherein said third hydraulic member is connected to said top member at a region some distance away from a line between the pivot of said top member and the distal end thereof.;7 - An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means dependent from the distal end or adjacent the distal end of said top member capable of lifting a load is or includes means pivoted at the distal end thereof about a -pivot point with an axis parallel to all the axes of other pivots previously mentioned.;8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means capable of lifting a load includes means capable of supporting a frame-member\or which supports at least in part a frame member capable of engaging with a container.;9. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 1 or figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. /;10. A structure which includes two hoist or crane arrangements as claimed in any one of the preceding claims positioned so as to be movable through in phase movements within parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of a container to be loaded onto or unloaded from said structure.;11. A structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein said means capable of lifting a load is engagable with the top of such;-container.;198219;12. A method of loading or unloading ~a container when , performed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.;13. A crane or hoist having an operative geometry substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.;is&IU:■ * By Mir/Their authorised Agent A. J. PARK & SON ofoc/. Per: - 13 -