RU2708515C1 - Container control device, in particular, a container with lower discharge - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: control systems.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to container control devices, such as spreaders. Spreader (1) includes frame (2) with twistlocks (3) installed on it, power drive (4), movable mechanism (5) of engagement and means of force transmission connecting power drive (4) and movable mechanism (5) of engagement. Power drive (4) and force transmission devices are arranged substantially along long sides of frame (2), and movable mechanism (5) of engagement is arranged on short sides of frame (2). Power drive (4) provides reciprocating movement of movable mechanism (5) of engagement mainly in direction perpendicular to plane of frame (2).

EFFECT: broader functional devices used for gripping, holding, moving and unloading containers, enabling unloading of the container with lower discharge, as well as automation, simplifying and accelerating the unloading of such a container.

9 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to loading and unloading equipment, in particular to container control devices, such as spreaders, and is intended for gripping, holding and moving containers, as well as unloading containers carrying bulk cargoes, in particular, containers with lower unloading (unloading down).

State of the art

Known devices for gripping and moving containers, including large-capacity ISO containers, called spreaders. Spreaders can provide additional operations, such as opening the lid (hatch) of the container to access its contents and unloading the container by flipping it around a horizontal axis that runs substantially parallel to the long side of the container, or by tilting the container.

So, in the application WO2013006141 a spreader is described that captures and moves a container, further comprising a top cover lid engaging device, including, in turn, twistlocks and vertical movement mechanisms of twistlocks. Twistlocks engage with protrusions on the lid located on top of the container, and subsequent vertical movement of the twistlocks to the upper position allows the lid to be lifted. This spreader does not flip the container; this function is performed by another device, or the container is unloaded by capturing its contents with another, additional device. Obviously, the speed of unloading such a container is low, and in addition, requires the use of additional devices and, accordingly, additional space.

From the applications AU2017201522, WO2017196260, there are known spreaders which, in addition to gripping and lifting the lid located on top of the container, also carry out a container flipping, which speeds up the unloading of the container. For this, known spreaders comprise mechanisms for rotating the container about a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the long side of the container. Such a spreader accelerates the unloading of the container and does not require the use of additional devices or manual operations.

From patent RU2667206, a spreader is known which, in addition to gripping and holding the container, unloads it by tilting the container around a horizontal axis, essentially parallel to the short side of the container, and dumping cargo through the hatch (door) located at the end of the container. In known spreaders of this type, the operation of unlocking and locking the hatch (door) is not implemented by the spreader mechanisms, but is performed manually, which slows down the speed of work.

Known technical solutions used for unloading and implemented in known spreaders, including those listed above, have the following significant disadvantages.

First of all, increased requirements are imposed on the rigidity and strength of the spreader design, as well as its design is complicated, since additional reinforcing elements and elements for holding the container in a partially or fully turned (inclined) state are required. The use of container gripping and holding mechanisms (twistlocks), standard for the container industry, is also not obvious, since all of them are designed for loads along the longitudinal axis of the twistlock and do not include bending (kink) loads.

Increased requirements are also imposed on the rigidity and strength of the container structure. The requirements of the International Convention on Safe Containers (BSC) (Geneva, December 2, 1972) and the corresponding ISO standards do not contain standards, as well as test methods for the load of the fittings and frame (body) of the container for its inclination or revolution. This may lead to the need for time-consuming and long creation and approval of such standards and test methods or, in their absence, restrictions on the use of such containers.

There are also no universal spreaders that could be used for serviced containers of different sizes and different positions of the centers of mass of the cargo of containers. When changing the height of the container and / or switching to a cargo with a different bulk density and, accordingly, the center of mass in the container, it is often necessary to make and use another spreader.

Another disadvantage of these known spreaders is their limited functionality when working with new containers, unloading from which is carried out from below, and not through the top cover or hatch (door) at the end. An example of such a new container is a container according to RF patent RU2673991. Its feature is the placement of open and fixed hatches (sashes) in the lower part of the container body for unloading cargo down, or lower unloading. Using well-known spreaders, unlocking, opening, closing and blocking the shutters located at the bottom of the container will require either the use of additional equipment or, more likely at the moment, the use of labor, which entails certain difficulties.

Thus, there is the task of creating a spreader capable of controlling said containers with a lower discharge, allowing not only to grab, hold and move containers with a lower discharge, but also to control the hatches of such containers, namely, to unlock, open, close and lock the hatches. In this sense, the spreader according to the present invention can also be called a container control device, because it provides additional functions that are usually not inherent to the spreaders known in the art. In the framework of this application, the concepts of "spreader" and "container control device" should be considered as equivalent.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention is aimed at eliminating the disadvantages of the known spreaders and the creation of a container control device that allows you to grab, hold and move containers, as well as control the hatches (sashes) of containers with lower unloading, including fully automatic mode, using only the mechanisms of such a device, hereinafter referred to as also a spreader.

The declared spreader performs at least the following main functions:

- gripping and holding any container, including a standard ISO standard container, for example, 20 feet in size, to move it;

- management of hatches (sashes) of containers with lower unloading. In general, the following operations can be performed with hatches of a container with a lower discharge: unlocking, opening, closing, locking of hatches. Hatches are driven by rods; one end of the rods is mounted on the hatch, and the second end of the rods is led out, preferably, to the top of the container and can be connected to the actuator on the spreader through a connecting element (in particular, a standard container fitting) for performing these operations.

These functions can be performed by the declared spreader when changing in a wide range of container height, dimensions and shape of hatches, cargo characteristics, cargo distribution in the container, etc.

To unlock, open, close and lock the hatches they are moved, affecting the traction. Moreover, the displacement of the rods can be significant and exceed 1.7 meters. With a well-known approach, i.e. when the actuators are located vertically along the sides of the spreader, the spreader will be quite high, up to 2 meters or more in height, which for many reasons is undesirable.

Thus, another task solved by the present invention is to ensure the compact design of the proposed spreader, especially in height.

Finally, another possibility provided for in the design of the inventive spreader is the ability to operate two spreaders simultaneously by suspending them on a special crosshead, which will double the productivity. The design of the spreader does not preclude this in any way due to the layout of its structural elements and the appropriate selection of structural elements used in the claimed spreader.

The technical results of the present invention are to expand the arsenal of technical means used for gripping, holding and moving containers, as well as managing containers for unloading them, providing the possibility of unloading containers with lower unloading, automation, simplification and acceleration of the process of unloading such containers.

The tasks are solved, and the claimed technical results are achieved in the container control device, or a spreader containing a frame with standard means for engaging the container mounted on it, for example twistlocks that serve to grab and hold the container, a power drive, a movable engagement mechanism with additional means of engagement, and force transmission means connecting the power drive and the movable gear mechanism. The power drive and force transmission means can be arranged substantially along the long sides of the frame, and the movable gear mechanism is arranged substantially on the short sides of the frame. In this case, the power drive is configured to impart reciprocating motion to the movable mechanism in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame, i.e. in the vertical direction, including going beyond the dimensions (contour, lower plane of the frame) of the spreader.

The claimed container control device can be used with any known containers and is intended, inter alia, for automated control of a container with a lower discharge, in particular, known from RF patent RU2673991.

In terms of holding and moving the container, the spreader does not differ from most analogues and includes a power frame with twistlocks placed on it, means of their power drive (hydraulic or electric), as well as an appropriate control, signaling and communication device with the operator.

In terms of controlling the hatches of the container, the spreader is equipped, first of all, with a special device for controlling the hatches of the container to capture and hold the rods for controlling the hatches. This device - a movable gearing mechanism - contains additional gearing means (for example, a twistlock) for connecting to the rods of the container hatches and can move relative to the spreader in a plane parallel to the end walls of the container, a distance exceeding the height of the spreader, for which the movable gearing mechanism through a flexible power the connection (cable, chain) is attached to the power drive.

The power drive can be performed as an electric motor and hydraulic drive, if necessary - with a gearbox. The power drive can be located directly above the movable gearing mechanism in the end frame of the spreader or in the middle of the spreader. Preferably, the power drive is connected via a force transmitting device (e.g., a rotary unit) to a linear power mechanism (e.g., a hydraulic cylinder) located closer to the middle of the spreader, the force from which is transmitted to a cable (or chain) connected to the movable engagement mechanism.

Through the use of force transmission means that convert the reciprocating movement from the power drive mainly in the horizontal plane (plane of the frame parallel to the long side of the container) into the reciprocating movement of the movable gear mechanism mainly in the vertical plane (perpendicular to the plane of the frame, perpendicular to the long side of the container ), it was possible to achieve a small height of the claimed spreader, and also without additional devices to ensure the transmission of force container for lower-unloading container hatches, including when the hatches are under high load. The additional provision of the spreader with a power drive, force transfer means and a movable gear mechanism, obviously, allows you to fully automate the process of controlling a container with a lower discharge, eliminate the need for labor and, as a result, accelerate the process of unloading such a container.

The tasks are solved, and the claimed technical results are also achieved in the preferred embodiments of the container control device, according to which:

- the spreader contains fittings placed on the frame for installing or suspending the spreader on crane equipment, directly or through an intermediate frame (traverse);

- the power drive is a hydraulic drive and includes at least one hydraulic cylinder, while the hydraulic drive can be located essentially in the middle part of the frame;

- the spreader further comprises a control unit for controlling the power drive and / or twistlocks for installation in container fittings;

- the control unit comprises a pressure generating device for a hydraulic actuator. Alternatively, the control unit may comprise means for supplying pressure for the hydraulic drive, for example, from crane equipment;

- means of transmission of force can be a cable-block mechanism, more preferably, if the cable-block mechanism contains a chain hoist;

- the movable meshing mechanism comprises a rotary mechanism, and the additional meshing means is a twistlock that engages with the counterpart of the container.

Further, the invention and its advantages over known analogues will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 shows a container control device according to the invention.

In FIG. 2 shows a container control device according to the invention with an extended movable engagement mechanism.

In FIG. 3 schematically shows the installation of a container control device on a container.

In FIG. 4 shows a container control device mounted on a container.

In FIG. 5 schematically shows control of container hatches using a container control device.

The implementation of the invention

The claimed container control device, or spreader 1, is shown schematically in FIG. 1, 2 and includes a frame 2 with twistlocks 3 mounted on it, a power drive 4, a movable gearing mechanism 5 and means for transmitting force connecting the power drive 4 and the movable gearing mechanism 5.

As in the well-known spreaders and other means of moving containers, the twistlocks 3 serve to engage and hold the container 6, entering into the corresponding fittings 7 of the container located on the top of the container 6 (Fig. 3). For the convenience of combining the twist blocks 3 with the fittings 7 of the container, rails (not shown in the figures) can be additionally installed on the frame 2.

The power drive 4 is designed to move the movable gearing mechanism 5 and, accordingly, control the hatches of the container 6, as will be described later. The power drive 4 may be any known power drive, for example, electric, magnetic, hydraulic, etc. Given the high requirements of the container control devices, such as the power and reliability provided, the power drive 4 is preferably in the form of a hydraulic drive. In this case, the power drive 4 may include one or more hydraulic cylinders, depending on the power that it must provide, as well as the overall dimensions of the containers, which are controlled by the claimed spreader 1.

Preferably, the actuator 4 is located substantially along (parallel or close to parallel to) the long sides of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, 2, and, respectively, along the long sides of the container 1, or horizontally. Firstly, it provides a compact design of the claimed container control device. Secondly, this arrangement of the actuator 4 allows you to make it larger than if the actuator 4 was located, for example, vertically on the end sides of the spreader 1. And the large size of the actuator 4 also means higher power, which it can provide that also improves its reliability. In addition, it is advisable to place the actuator 4 substantially in the middle of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, 2 to ensure the best balance of the spreader 1 and sufficient space to accommodate the means of transmission of force on the frame 2.

The movable gearing mechanism 5 is adapted to engage with the respective hatches controls controlling the position of the hatches 8 of the container 6 (Fig. 5). To this end, the movable engagement mechanism 5 may comprise, for example, an additional twistlock 9 and, preferably, a rotary mechanism 10 (FIG. 2) for rotating said additional twistlock 9, when the additional twistlock 9 is combined with controls for hatches 8 for interlocking the additional twistlock 9 with indicated hatches controls 8.

The indicated controls for hatches 8 may be rods 11, the first ends of which are connected to the corresponding hatch 8, and the second ends mesh with the movable gear 5. Such engagement can be carried out, for example, by means of an additional twistlock 9 and a reciprocal fitting (not shown in the figures) located at the indicated second ends of the rods 11.

The movable gearing mechanism 5 is located on the short, or end, sides of the frame 2. This allows you to place it as close as possible to the controls of the hatches of the container 6.

Since the directions of movement of the power actuator 4 and the movable meshing mechanism 5 are substantially mutually perpendicular, the force transfer means connecting the actuator 4 and the movable meshing mechanism 5 must provide a change in the direction of application of the force. For this means of transmission of force can be performed by any method known to a person skilled in the art, for example, be a cable-block mechanism.

For the example of FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the force transmission means in the form of a cable-block mechanism, including at least cables 12 (or chains, or other suitable means) and roller mechanisms 13 (or blocks). The cables 12 are connected at one end to a power drive 4, and at the other end to a movable meshing mechanism 5, and the roller mechanisms 13 are used for the indicated change in the direction of movement. Additionally, especially for working with a large, heavily loaded container 6, the cable-block mechanism may also contain a chain hoist (not shown in the figures), which allows either to increase the transmitted force, or, more preferably, to increase the stroke of the movable gear 5 (when using the reverse tackle).

Thus, according to the invention, the movable engagement mechanism 5 essentially moves in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame 2, engages with the response controls for the hatches and transfers the force from the power drive 4 to the hatches 8 of the container 6. For the convenience of the image, in FIG. 2, the movable engagement mechanism 5 is shown in an extended position, extending beyond the boundary of the lower plane of the frame 2. This position of the movable engagement mechanism 5 may correspond to the maximum opening of the hatches 8. It is understood that the movable engagement mechanism 5 can also rise above the lower plane of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, when closing hatches 8.

In addition, the force transmission means can provide not only reciprocating movement from the power drive 4 to the movable engagement mechanism 5, but also efforts to the rotary mechanism 10 to provide rotational movement of the additional twistlock 9 for engagement with the reciprocal fitting at the second ends of the rods 11. Alternatively, the rotary mechanism 10 may itself be a drive providing rotational movement of the twistlock 9. In any case, this allows you to fully automate the process of controlling the hatches 8 container 6.

On the frame 2, the control unit 14 for the power drive 4, as well as the twistlock drives 3 for gripping and holding the container 6, can be additionally placed. In particular, if the power drive 4 is electric or magnetic, the control unit 14 can be an electric generator or, for example, a distribution panel to which external power is supplied. If the power actuator 4 is hydraulic, the control unit 14 may comprise a pressure generating device for the hydraulic actuator or may simply include means for supplying pressure for the hydraulic actuator from the outside, for example, from an external compressor. In addition, the control unit 14 itself or other additional device may contain electronic systems for monitoring, diagnostics, control of the spreader 1, communication with the operator or other external equipment.

Similarly to the power drive 4, it is preferable that the means of transmission of force are located essentially along (parallel or close to a parallel position) of the long sides of the frame 2 and, accordingly, along the long sides of the container 6, or horizontally. This ensures the compactness of the spreader 1, and also allows you to transfer more power (effort) to the hatches 8 and ensures the reliability of the claimed container control device.

The claimed container control device is suspended by any known method directly on a crane or other known device for lifting and moving goods, for example, for additional twist blocks 15.

The claimed container control device operates as follows.

The spreader 1 is suspended (mounted) on a crane or other known device for lifting and moving goods, for example, behind frame 2 or additional twist blocks 15.

Next, the spreader 1 is moved to the container 6 (Fig. 3) and lowered onto the container 6 (Fig. 4). Twistlocks 3 engage with fittings 7 of the upper part of the container 6, and their engagement is fixed, for example, by turning the twistlocks 3 by means of a rotary mechanism 10.

After this fixation of the engagement of the twist blocks 3 with fittings 7, a crane or device for lifting and moving loads can move the spreader 1 and the attached container 6.

To open and close the hatches 8 of the container 6, for example, when unloading the container 6, the movable gear 5 by means of the power drive 4 and means of transmission of force is moved to the response controls of the hatches and bring them into mutual engagement. Further movement of the movable gear mechanism 5 causes the movement of the response controls for the hatches and, accordingly, the hatches 8 themselves.

For example, the movable meshing mechanism 5 includes a rotary mechanism 10 and an additional twistlock 9, and the response controls for the hatches include a response fitting (not shown in the figures) and rods 11 connecting the response fitting and hatches 8 as described above. The power drive 4 through means of force transmission (for example, including cables 12 and roller mechanisms 13) moves the movable gearing mechanism 5 to the mating fitting, so that an additional twistlock 9 is included in the mating fitting. Further, the rotary mechanism 10 rotates the additional twistlock 9 (for example, by means of an integrated drive, or when transmitting the corresponding force from the power drive 4, or manually), so that the additional twistlock 9 engages with the reciprocal fitting. After that, moving the movable gear mechanism 5 up or down causes a similar movement of the reciprocal fitting, and through it, a corresponding up or down movement of the rods 11, which control the opening and closing of the hatches 8.

It should be noted that opening the hatches 8 may require both simple unidirectional movement of the rods 11 downward and a more complex movement, for example, first a small shift of the rods 11 upwards, and then a longer downward shift. Such a two-stage movement of the rods 11 may be required, for example, when the hatches 8 must first be slightly lifted to unlock them, and only after that the hatches 8 can be opened by moving the rods 11 down. Obviously, using the power drive 4 and / or the control unit 14, any algorithm for moving the movable meshing mechanism 5 required to unlock, open, close and lock the hatches 8 can be implemented.

Moreover, by means of the power drive 4 and / or the control unit 14, it is also possible to realize additional or service functions, such as cleaning the hatches 8 or the entire container 6, for example, by imparting a low-frequency oscillation to them, which is easily realized by methods known to the person skilled in the art using the inventive control device container.

Thus, the claimed container control device allows you to significantly expand the functionality of known spreaders used to capture, hold, move and unload containers, provides the ability to unload a container with lower unloading, as well as automation, simplification and acceleration of the process of unloading such a container.

Claims (9)

1. A container control device comprising a frame with twistlocks mounted thereon, a power drive, a movable gearing mechanism and force transmission means connecting the power drive and a movable gearing mechanism, wherein the power drive and force transmission means are arranged substantially along the long sides of the frame, movable the engagement mechanism is arranged substantially on the short sides of the frame, and the power drive is configured to give the movable engagement mechanism the reciprocating motion in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. 2. The container control device according to claim 1, wherein the power drive is located essentially in the middle part of the frame. 3. The container control device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the power drive is a hydraulic drive comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder. 4. The container control device according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure generating device for the hydraulic drive. 5. The container control device according to claim 3, further comprising means for supplying pressure for the hydraulic drive. 6. The container control device according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission means is a cable-block mechanism. 7. The container control device according to claim 6, in which the cable-block mechanism comprises a chain hoist. 8. The container control device according to claim 1, wherein the movable engagement mechanism includes a rotary mechanism and an additional twistlock engaged with the container mate. 9. The container control device according to claim 8, wherein the power drive and force transmission means are configured to impart rotational movement to an additional twistlock.

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