WO2006078170A1

WO2006078170A1 - Device for a loading and unloading system

Info

Publication number: WO2006078170A1
Application number: PCT/NO2006/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Munck
Original assignee: Munckloaders Engineering As
Priority date: 2005-01-14
Filing date: 2006-01-16
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: NO331335B1; GB0715207D0; GB2437876A; NO20050222D0; NO20050222L; GB2437876B

Abstract

A device is described for carrying out loading and unloading operations of cargo with the help of cranes where the cargo or the cargo-bearing unit is coupled to a fastening body in a wire, chain or the like via a yoke, a hook, fork or the like. The device is characterised in that the fastening body comprises a grabbing body (20) that can be connected to a coupling body (30) connected to the cargo, and the device comprises means for bringing together*/centring and subsequent coupling of the arrangement and the coupling body, and appliances to release the coupling between the means.

Description

DEVICE FOR A LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a device to control and make more efficient to carry out loading operations, such as for transfer of cargo in hoisting by a crane where the cargo is suspended in a wire, cable, chain or similar wires, via a yoke, a hook, fork or the like as it is described in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an application of the device.

In particular, the invention concerns loading and unloading operations in connection with offshore activity, for example, where cargo from a supply vessel shall be lifted onboard a platform, or vice versa, with the help of a crane situated on the platform. Loading and unloading of cargo between platforms and supply vessels out on the field is today carried out in that a deck crew manually is connecting and disconnecting slings to the crane hooks. This is dangerous work that can lead to accidents where the operators are hurt. Furthermore, the cargo can be exposed to impact and shock damages. Devices that can prevent the cargo from starting to swing forward and backward in a pendulous movement to reduce the risk of such dangerous situations are previously known.

Solutions for automatic coupling of a cargo to a crane wire are also known. In Norwegian Patent application 19994724 belonging to the applicant, it is described that an upwardly extending spike with a hook construction is arranged on top of each container that is to be handled. A correspondingly shaped hook element, with a downwardly extending cupola form is arranged in the end of the wire that shall lift the container. This cupola shape is lowered over the spike and a locking arm (a pawl arrangement) is connected to grip onto the underside of the hook section. The container is thereby fastened to the wire in the crane. The connection between the spike and the cupola is released by remote control.

There is a great need to improve the known automatic loading and unloading operations, i.e. that they can be carried out without personnel being needed to directly operate or be in the vicinity of slings, hooks, wires and the like. Consequently, it is an aim to be able to operate the loading and unloading system in a so-called hands-free way, i.e. without manual operation. it is aim oτ the invention to provide an improved system to couple together the hook element on the line to the coupling body itself on the cargo (containers, etc.).

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a unit that can increase the loading efficiency.

The device according to the present invention is characterised by the features that appear in the characteristics in the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention appear in the dependent claims.

A particularly essential feature is that the coupling body can be integrated to the cargo-bearing unit, the coupling body of which encompasses an adapted seat to receive the grabbing body. The coupling body can furthermore be connected to a frame that permanently, or temporarily, is set up to be disengagable coupled to the cargo or the cargo-bearing unit.

According to the invention, the device is applied to carry out loading and unloading operations of cargo by means of a crane, in combination with a pendulous and rotational movement dampening system, where a number of jet fluid nozzles are used to control the pendulous, swinging and rotational movements of the cargo.

When the grabbing part is connected to the coupling, the crane operator in the crane cabin can be visually informed via a signal on a display, such as a coloured light signal or with a sound signal, that a lifting operation can be carried out in a safe way. The grabbing device can not be released before the cargo has landed or been put down on a firm ground. As a consequence of its mechanical construction and the limited force that is needed to provide release, the operation of the grabbing device requires that the load is approximately zero above its specific weight before it can be released. This means that the cargo must stand oh firm ground to be able to be released. When the cargo has been put down and zero load has been obtained (on the deck/crane), the crane operator can be visually informed via the panel in the crane cabin (radio controlled) that release is possible, and that it can be carried out in a safe way by the crane driver. The signal transmission can be wireless. When the grabbing unit has been released from the cargo, it is ready for the next coupling operation. The invention also comprises a device for a loading and unloading system for cargo, comprising a frame which is permanently or temporarily arranged to be connected to the cargo or the unit carrying the cargo so that release is possible, said frame comprises a coupling body for coupling to a grabbing unit in a crane system

Preferably the frame comprises a plate formed framework with space for the coupling unit, and also a number of downwardly extending legs arranged to be connected to the top of a cargo bearing unit, such as a container.

The invention shall now be explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed figures, in which;

Figs. 1 and 2A show schematically a loading/unloading system where the invention can be applied, and which comprises a crane 10 (for example, on a platform) that performs a loading/unloading operation of containers (cargo carriers) 40 situated onboard a vessel 16, such as a supply vessel.

Fig. 2B shows a plane diagram of a ship loaded with containers and where the top of each container is equipped with a handling frame for loading and unloading. The countersunk landing body is indicated as a circle in the middle of each container. Fig. 3 shows a side perspective of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention used to handle a container 40 according to the invention, and where a mounting frame is fitted on the top of the container. Fig. 4 shows two containers, each with its own mounting frame, where the one is placed on top of the other. Figs. 5A and 5B show schematically an enlarged side view and a plane diagram, respectively, of an embodiment of the coupling mechanism according to the invention.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged cross-section of the coupling mechanism.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of the invention, where the coupling unit/receiver is not fastened to the cargo (the container), but is arranged as a separate section to which the straps of the cargo itself are connected.

Initially, reference is made to the figures 1 and 2. The suspension and coupling bodies 12, according to the invention, are suspended in a cable 14 in a crane 10. The suspension body 12 comprises a grabbing unit 20. A unit 50 for control of the rotational and swinging movements is optional. The grabbing unit 20, according to figure 2, is arranged to be coupled to each container 40 that is loaded onto a ship 16 shown in figure 2A, one by one, via a separate frame-formed coupling unit 30 that is fixed to each container 40. The grabbing unit 20 has a conical form (cornet form), and when in use it is suspended with the point facing down, and comprises means to form a fixed coupling with the coupling unit 30 via a correspondingly formed recess 32 in the coupling unit. In other words, the coupling frame is adapted to be able to couple the cargo to a loading and unloading system (crane system). At the bottom of the grabbing unit 20, a camera 24 can be optionally fitted that can be transfer pictures of the exact position of the unit to the crane operator, in relation to an underlying working area, such as the container 40, or the underlying coupling unit 30 that the grabbing unit (20) shall be adjusted to.

This construction of a grabbing unit can also be used to place other equipment on the deck and the like, and is not exclusively for loading and unloading purposes.

The grabbing unit 20 has a downwardly facing conical shape and is formed so that it can easily be fastened to all standard crane hooks. The grabbing unit 20 will automatically be centred to the middle of the frame 30 as a consequence of the conical shape of the elements 20 and 30, respectively, in combination with its weight. When the grabbing unit has been put down (or is positioned), the locking bodies will automatically lock the grabbing unit to the frame. As shown in figure 3, the cables/wires 14 are fastened to the attachment lugs 11 of the grabbing body 20. The coupling unit 30 comprises a recess 32 with a seat that has a form which is adapted to the grabbing unit 20. When the grabbing unit 20 is lowered toward the recess 32 on the coupling unit 30, it is centred and lowered down to the bottom of the seat. In this position, a blocking organ (see figures 5A and 5B) is released, that results in a locking pin being displaced to engage with an opposite shaped hook internally in the seat in the coupling unit 30.

This locking mechanism in the coupling unit 30 shall be explained in more detail in connection with figures 5A and 5B, and the enlarged cross section in figure 6.

The coupling unit 30 shown in figure 3 is formed in a specially shaped frame construction that can easily be coupled to all standard containers and similar cargo carriers. The frame construction 30 comprises four downwardly extending legs 34, one in each corner, and which is formed to be coupled together as a rigid connection to the normal attachment lugs of the container (not shown in detail). Furthermore, the frame construction 30 has a flat topside 36 shaped so that the next container can rest on the frame. The containers can consequently be stacked on top of each other, with the number being optional. The coupling in the countersunk seat 32 lies protected in and below the frame surface, and is not touched by an above lying container such that it can be damaged. The seat 32 is formed with a conical recess and with an edge surface that is adapted to engage with the locking arm (a bar/bolt) on the grabbing unit 20 that is lowered down into the seat.

According to an example, both the opening entrance of the seat 32 and the largest diameter of the grabbing unit 20 have mutually adapted diameters D, for example in the area 1-1.5 metres. The height H of the grabbing unit 20 can be about 0.5 metres.

Structure of the grabbing unit.

The mechanism to form an engagement with the coupling body 30 in the frame construction is constructed internally in the housing construction of the unit 20. A deflected locking arm 21 is pivotally mounted to the housing construction in its frame part at 23. The outer end 25 of the arm 21 is arranged to be flipped/lie out of the housing through a correspondingly formed slit in the wall of the housing, with the end of the arm 25 being arranged to form a locking engagement with a peripheral, ring formed flange edge in the seat 32 in the frame part 30 of the container 40. The other end 26 of the arm 21 rests with its top side against the underside of a hook section 27 on the piston 28 in a pressure cylinder 29 that is driven by a fluid medium that is put under pressure. This fluid or medium is preferably air, but hydraulic oil can also be used, even if air is preferably used today. The pressure cylinder is fitted in the centre of the housing, and functions such that it limits the upward flipping movement of the locking arm to the position where the extreme end extends out of the housing to a locking position. When the piston is pulled downward, the extreme end is flipped upwards and into the housing so that the locking effect ceases.

A spring mechanism 31 is arranged to work against the locking arm at a point between the mounting point 23 in the housing and where the arm 21 rests against the hook 27. The spring exerts a given force against the locking arm 21 and prevents this from flipping downward about the joint 23 and thereby that the engagement end can slide out of the engagement with the flange.

As can be seen in figure 5B, the compressed air cylinder 29 is arranged to work on three sets of locking arms 21 that are placed at a mutual distance of 120° around the internal circumference of the grabbing body. The locking effect of the locking arms 21 in the unit 20 to the unit 30 therefore takes place in one and the same operation. If required, more than three such locking arms 21 can, of course, be arranged around the circumference. The figure shows also the other elements inside the housing and which are necessary to operate the locking body. A compressed air cylinder 80, a control box 82 with a transmitter and a receiver and a solenoid valve 84 are shown.

The operation of the pressure cylinder for releasing the engagement between the grabbing body and the coupling body, is carried out by remote control by the operator via wireless transmission with the help of the elements explained in the previous paragraph.

Said locking arm elements are shown in more detail and enlarged in figure 6. The figure shows the grabbing body 20 that is placed down in the recess 32 in the hoisting frame 30 for locking engagement. The peripheral, ring- formed inner wall 32 of the recess 32 is formed with a continuous ring-shaped hook section 33 that forms an inwardly facing overhang 37 in the recess. When the grabbing body is lowered, the end edge 37 of the locking arm 21 will abut the top side of the hook 33, be bent upwards and inwards (against the spring force 31) and then be bent and slide back in an outward direction on the underside 37 of the hook 33. The force from the spring 31 will ensure that the arm 21 can not glide out of the engagement with the hook 33.

The release will take place by operating the pressure cylinder 29. By pressurising the cylinder, the piston 28 is pulled into the cylinder 29 and it pushes the hook 27 and thereby the arm 21 downward about the axis 23, so that the end 25 of the locking arm glides out of the engagement with the hook 33 at 37.

However, such an operation is only possible when the container 40 stands on firm ground and does not exert load to the grabbing body 20. High force is required for the edge face of the arm end 25 to be able to glide (face to face) against the underside face 37 of the hook 33 and out of the engagement and become free. Figure 7 shows the system according to the invention in a variant that can be used to handle a cargo which is not in the shape of a container. In such cases, a moveable box-formed or housing formed frame construction 70 can be used which comprises the coupling unit 30 with the countersunk seat 32 for fastening of a grabbing body 20. The underside of the housing comprises one or more wire hooks 72 to which a number of wires 73 can be connected, which are used to couple the load at 74. The load can be an extended object 75 such as a beam construction that shall be handled.

Initially, the coupling unit 70/30 lies resting on top of the object 75 (lower position in the figure). The crane operator lowers the grabbing body 20 so that it is placed down in the seat 32 and is hooked up in the same way to that explained above.

Thereafter, the grabbing body/coupling body is lifted up to its upper position and the cargo can be lifted up further. To be able to control any rotational and swing movements of a hanging cargo, the topside of the gripping body can comprise a platform on which the controllable jet bodies can be arranged, and where air to the jet bodies is delivered from a compressed air source. This system for rotation and swing control can also be remote controlled by the operator, and also automation may lead to the cargo being set at no (zero) rotation and swing movements.

The system according to the invention provides an improved possibility for fast and safe handling of cargo. It has particularly good use characteristics during operating conditions where one must be able to control swing and rotation movements of the crane wires when the foundation moves as a consequence of waves.

Claims

P A I b N l C L A I M S

1. Device to perform loading and unloading operations of cargo with the help of cranes where the cargo or a cargo-bearing unit is connected to a fastening body in a wire, chain, or the like line via a yoke, a hook, fork or the like, characterised in that the fastening body comprises a grabbing body (20) that can be connected to a coupling body (30) in connection to the cargo, and the device comprises means for bringing together/centring and subsequent coupling of the arrangement and the coupling body, and appliances to release the coupling between said means.

2. Device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the coupling body (30) is integrated to the cargo-bearing unit which coupling body comprises an adapted seat to receive the grabbing body (20).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the coupling body (30) is connected to a frame which permanently or temporarily is arranged to be releasably coupled to the cargo or the cargo-bearing unit.

4. Device according to claims 1-3, characterised in that each container is fitted with a coupling frame with associated seat to receive the grabbing body.

5. Device according to claims 1-4, characterised in that each coupling frame has a construction adjusted so that an overlying container can rest on the frame of an underlying container.

6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seat has a form which is a rounded, concave seat arranged to face upwards and which contributes to centre and guide the fastening body in place.

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling body constitutes a separate unit (70) which can be connected to any load (75) via hoisting lines (73), to thereafter be connected to the grabbing body.

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the grabbing body (20) comprises one or more locking arm mechanisms to maintain a fastening engagement with the coupling body (30) that can be released.

9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each locking arm mechanism is formed by a locking arm that, with the help of a spring mechanism, is prestressed in an engagement position with the coupling body.

10. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking arm is arranged to be transferred to release position from the engagement with the coupling body in that the locking body is influenced by a force against the force from the spring.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force is exerted by operation of a controllable piston/cylinder unit such as driven by a medium under pressure, such as air, or

12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling unit is connected to a frame that is fixed to a container.

13. Device according to claim 11 , characterised in that each frame has a topside arranged to let containers be stacked any of top of the other.

14. Application of the device according to the preceding claims for carrying out loading and unloading operations of cargo with the help of a crane in combination with a pendulous and rotational movement dampening system, where a number of jet fluid nozzles are used to control the pendulous and rotational movement of the cargo.

15. Application according to claim 12, where the fastening body in the cable comprises a framework or a housing part which both comprise the pendulous and rotational movement dampening system and the coupling device according to claims 1-7.

16. Application according to claims 12-13 for transfer of cargo between vessels and/or between vessels and fixed installations.

17. System for carrying out loading and unloading operations of cargo with the help of a crane, characterised by a combination of the device according to the claims 1-11 and a movement dampening system where a number of jet fluid nozzles are used to control pendulous and rotational movements of the wire during coupling and release of the fastening body and cargo.

18. Device for a loading and unloading system of cargo, characterised by a frame which is permanently or temporarily arranged to be connected to the cargo or the cargo-carrying unit so that it can be released, said frame comprises a coupling body (30) for connection to a grabbing unit in

19. Device according to claim 18, characterised in that the frame comprises a plate-formed framework with available space for the coupling unit, and also a number of downwardly extending legs (34) arranged to be connected to the top of a cargo-bearing unit, such as a container.