WO2009118639A1

WO2009118639A1 - Twistlock with automatic positioning means

Info

Publication number: WO2009118639A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/005103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luciano Fantuzzi
Original assignee: Luciano Fantuzzi
Priority date: 2008-03-27
Filing date: 2009-03-27
Publication date: 2009-10-01
Also published as: ITMO20080091A1

Abstract

The fastening-on and release device (1) for the handling of containers comprises a supporting structure (2), associable with means for lifting/lowering machines for handling loads, and a shaped grip element (3) that can be fitted in a complementary shaped slot (A) obtained on a load to be handled, the grip element being rotatable between a fitting/removing position into/from said slot, in which it is substantially aligned with the slot and a locking position inside the slot, in which it is arranged substantially crossways to the slot. The device comprises automatic positioning means (5,6,7,10) for the automatic positioning of the grip element between the fitting/removing position and the fastening-on position.

Description

TWISTLOCK WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING MEANS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastening-on and release device for handling various materials and loads, in particular for the handling of containers in port areas, railway yards or the like. Background Art The use is known of suitable large-size containers, commonly known as "containers", the main aim of which is to transport goods having the same geographic destination, so as to make easier the handling of goods as well as storage both on board ships and in the various port and interport terminals. The containers are commonly made up of a closed sealed container, the height, width and length measurements of which are defined by international standards (ISO 104), and have a two-door opening on one of the short sides for loading and unloading goods.

All the containers, at the eight corners, both the four lower corners and the four upper corners, have corner blocks with slot-shaped holes at their centre. In the four slots of the upper corner blocks suitable pins are fitted to allow fastening onto and handling of the containers.

Such pins are commonly known by the term "twist-lock" and have, at their extremities a substantially rectangular elongated shape and, once fitted and turned by 90 degrees, arrange themselves crossways to the slots themselves, fastening the container integrally onto the equipment used to handle it.

The four lower slots allow making integral several containers placed one on top of the other by interposition of special interlocks during transport. All the means used to handle and load/unload the containers have a grip tool, commonly called a spreader. The spreader is composed of a central supporting structure, rectangular, of variable standard width and length so as to be adaptable to containers of different length.

The supporting structure has two telescopic sections, at the ends of which are fixed integral two heads that carry the four fastening pins (the above twist- locks), which can be fitted in the respective slots of the corner blocks on the upper portion of each container.

All the container fastening operations are carried out by positioning the spreader resting on the container with fitting of the above twist-locks in the respective slots of the upper corner blocks.

Subsequently, the machine operator in charge of handling operates, for example by means of a control lever, actuator means of the hydraulic cylinder type, which allow the 90 degree rotation of the four twist-locks and, consequently, the locking of the spreader with the container.

Once the container has been handled and rested, the operator again operates the control lever, to again rotate the four twist-locks in the opposite direction by 90 degrees, to allow releasing and freeing the container and permit lifting the spreader and removing the twist-locks from the slots.

The spreader is therefore free and usable for other fastening-on and handling operations.

The spreaders currently used to handle containers do however have a number of drawbacks.

The operation of the actuator means that control the lock pins does in fact involve the carrying out of manual operations by the operator that lengthen the container fastening and release operation times.

Object of the Invention The main aim of the present invention is to provide a fastening and release device for the handling of various materials and loads, in particular for handling containers in port areas, railway yards or the like which permits simplifying such operations.

Another object of the present invention is to allow overcoming the mentioned drawbacks of the background art in the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution. The above objects are achieved by the present fastening-on and release device for handling various materials and loads, in particular for the handling of containers in port areas, railway yards or the like, comprising at least a supporting structure associable with means for lifting/lowering machines for handling loads, and at least a shaped grip element that can be fitted in at least a complementary shaped slot obtained on a load to be handled, said grip element being associated turning with said supporting structure between a fitting/removing position into/from said slot, in which it is substantially aligned with said slot and a locking position inside said slot, in which it is arranged substantially crossways to said slot, characterized in that it comprises automatic positioning means for the automatic positioning of said grip element between said fitting/removing position and said fastening-on position. Brief Description of the Drawings Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a form of preferred, but not sole, embodiment of a fastening-on and release device for handling various materials and loads, in particular for the handling of containers in port areas, railway yards or the like illustrated purely as an example but not limited to the annexed drawings in which: figure 1 is a front view of the device according to the invention; figure 2 is a side view of the device according to the invention; figure 3 is a plan view of the device according to the invention; figures from 4 to 12 are front views showing the operation of the device according to the invention. In particular, figures 4 to 8 illustrate the fastening-on phases of the device to a load to be handled, while figures 9 to 12 illustrate the release phases of the device from the load, after its handling. Embodiments of the Invention With particular reference to such figures, a fastening-on and release device for handling various materials and loads, of the type usable particularly on spreaders and other special equipment mounted on machines suitable for the handling of containers in port areas, railway yards or the like has been globally indicated by 1.

The device 1 comprises a supporting structure 2 associable with the spreaders mounted on the various lifting/lowering and transport means, such as machines intended for handling containers such as dock cranes, yard cranes, fork-lift trucks, straddle carriers, moving cranes, etc.

The device 1 comprises a grip element 3 composed of a pin, the end portion of which has an elongated rectangular shape and can be fitted in a complementary shaped slot A, composed of one of the elongated slots obtained on the corner blocks of containers, or other loads or materials to be handled, schematically shown in the illustrations by the reference C.

The pin 3 is associated turning at the supporting structure 2 between a position of fitting-into/removal-from said slot A, in which it is arranged substantially parallel to the slot itself (figures 1, 4, 10, 11 and 12), and a fastening-on position inside the slot A, in which it is arranged substantially crossways to the slot itself (figures 2, 6, 7 and 8).

In particular, the device 1 comprises a shaft 4 placed in vertical position, turning axially in its housing, integral with the supporting structure 2, and having a protruding extremity at the bottom of which is fastened integral the shaped rectangular pin 3 to be fitted in the slot A of the corner block of the container C. Advantageously, the device 1 comprises automatic positioning means for positioning the pin 3, made up of a mechanism composed of elements that make the rotation of the pin 3 automatic between the above fitting/removal position and the fastening-on position. The automatic positioning means comprise at least a thrust element, indicated in the above illustrations with the reference 5, associated sliding with the supporting structure 2 and suitable for engaging on a portion of the load C during the fitting of the pin 3 inside the slot A. In point of fact, the thrust element 5 is designed to receive a thrust from below upwards when the spreader is rested on the corner block of the container C.

The automatic positioning means further comprise movement transformation means for transforming the sliding movement of the thrust element 5 into the rotation movement of the pin 3 between the fitting/removal and locking configurations.

In particular, the thrust element 5 slides between an idle position, in which it protrudes from the supporting structure 2 (figures 1, 4, 9 and 12), and a thrust position, in which it is totally retracted inside the supporting structure 2 (figures

6 and 10).

The switch of the thrust element 5 from idle position to thrust position leads, thanks to the presence of the movement transformation means, to the positioning of the pin 3 from the fitting/removal position to the fastening-on position and vice versa.

The presence of the elastic means 6, of the thrust spring type, allows the constant return of the thrust element 5 from the thrust position to the idle position. The thrust element 5, in particular, is composed of a pair of pins 5a and 5b fitted axially sliding in opportune through-holes on the supporting structure 2.

These pins 5a and 5b are made integral with one another by means of a welded connection rod, this too housed in the supporting structure 2, making up a contact surface suitable for creating the thrust on the above container C, after the pin 3 has engaged itself in the slot A of the corner block of the container C.

The movement transformation means are composed of a system of levers placed in between the thrust element 5 and the above shaft 4.

In particular, the system of levers comprises a pair of equalizers 7a, 7b hinged to the supporting structure 2 at a fulcrum 8. The pins 5a and 5b of the thrust element 5 in their upper extremity have specific locknuts 9 suitable for engaging on the respective extremities of the equalizers

7a, 7b. A retention ring nut retains the springs 6 suitable for returning the thrust element 5 to idle position.

The system of levers comprises a lever 10, having a first extremity hinged to the supporting structure 2, at the fulcrum 8, and a second extremity associated with the shaft 4. In particular, a substantially plate-shaped slotted flange 11 extends from the second extremity of the shaft 4, at right angles to it.

An appendix 12 of the lever 10 is fitted inside a slot on the slotted flange 11. An oscillating rod 13 is hinged to the upper extremity of the lever 10, inside an opportune housing, and has a free extremity.

The rod 13 is swinging between two extreme positions and its free extremity interlocks in respectively at opportune seats defined on the equalizers 7a, 7b. In particular, during the switch of the thrust element 5 from the idle position to the thrust position, with consequent rotation of the equalizers 7a, 7b, the free extremity of the rod 13 is suitable for engaging at one of the seats. This results in the thrust on the lever 10 by means of the rod 13. Consequently, the thrust of the lever 10 transformed into horizontal thrust causes the slotted flange 11 of the shaft 4 to rotate and, turning by 90 degrees, the latter carries the pin 3 from the fitting/removal position to the fastening-on position or vice versa.

During the return of the thrust element 5 from the thrust position to the idle position, the seats of the two equalizers 7a, 7b move away from each other, thus enabling the free extremity of the rod 13 to release itself from the seat of one of the equalizers 7a, 7b and position itself at the seat of the other one of the equalizers 7a, 7b.

As shown in the figures 1 and 2, the device 1 comprises a first anchor point 14, hinged to the supporting structure 2 at a fulcrum 15, below the fulcrum 8. In particular, the lever 10 has a support 18 in its upper part, to which is connected a second anchor point 16 hinged at a fulcrum 17. The two extremities of the first and the second anchor points 14 and 16 are associated together by means of the interposition of a pair of pre-tensioned springs 19, which have the function of positioning the lever 10 at the extreme points. The device 1 resulting from the invention has been designed to operate with a totally mechanical and automatic system for fastening-onto/releasing the containers or different loads, thus in actual fact eliminating all hydraulic accessories.

In practice, four devices 1 are arranged at the four corners of a spreader.

Once the spreader has been positioned on a container C, with fitting of the pins

3 inside respective slots A, the pressure on the thrust element 5 is transformed into a 90 degree rotation of each pin 3, thus making it possible to fasten onto the container C, lift it and handle it.

Once the container C has been put down, the pins 3 are already positioned parallel to the slots A and, therefore, the spreader can be lifted and used to handle another container C. The operation of the device according to the invention is shown in detail in the figures from 4 to 12.

In particular, the figure 4 shows the device 1 in contact position and drop phase, where the thrust element 5 starts elevating and consequently leads to the rotation of the pin 3. The figure 5 shows the device 1 with the thrust element 5 at half stroke and the pin 3 rotated by 45 degrees.

The figure 6 shows the device 1 in contact with the corner block of the load C, where the thrust element 5 is at end of stroke and the pin 3 is turned by 90 degrees in fastening-on position. The figure 7 shows the device 1 in elevating phase with the thrust element 5 at half stroke and the pin 3 in fastening-on position.

The figure 8 shows the device 1 in elevating phase with the pin 3 inside the slot

A, turned by 90 degrees, in fastening-on position and lifting the load C.

The figure 9 shows the device 1 in drop phase with the thrust element at half stroke and the pin 3 turned by 45 degrees.

The figure 10 represents the device 1 completely in contact with the corner block of the load C and the pin 3, turned by 90 degrees, in removal position, parallel with the slot A and free to exit from the box C.

The figure 11 represents the device 1 in elevating phase with the thrust element 5 in intermediate position and with the pin 3 that remains parallel with the slot

A. The figure 12 shows the device 1 in elevating phase with the thrust element 5 at end of stroke and the pin 3 aligned with the slot A for the subsequent moving away from the load C.

It has in point of fact been ascertained how the described invention achieves the proposed objects.

In particular, the presence of the automatic pin positioning means permits considerably simplifying container fastening-on and release operations, making such operation extremely quick, simple and safe.

In point of fact, the invention has been conceived and made to automatically fasten onto and release the containers with all the spreaders and on all the machines intended to handle the containers.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore all the details can be replaced with others that are technically equivalent.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without because of this moving outside the protection scope of the following claims.

Claims

1) Fastening-on and release device for handling various materials and loads, in particular for the handling of containers in port areas, railway yards or the like, comprising at least a supporting structure associable with means for lifting/lowering machines for handling loads, and at least a shaped grip element that can be fitted in at least a complementary shaped slot obtained on a load to be handled, said grip element being associated turning with said supporting structure between a fitting/removing position into/from said slot, in which it is substantially aligned with said slot and a locking position inside said slot, in which it is arranged substantially crossways to said slot, characterized in that it comprises automatic positioning means for the automatic positioning of said grip element between said fitting/removing position and said fastening-on position.

2) Device according to the claim 1, characterized in that said automatic positioning means comprise at least a thrust element, associated sliding at said supporting structure and suitable for engaging on at least a portion of said load.

3) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said automatic positioning means comprise movement transformation means for transforming the sliding movement of said thrust element into the rotation movement of said grip element between said fitting/removal position and said fastening-on position.

4) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust element slides between an idle position, in which it protrudes at least partially from said supporting structure and a thrust position, in which it is substantially retracted inside said supporting structure.

5) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said automatic positioning means comprise return elastic means for said thrust element to said idle position.

6) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic means comprise at least a thrust spring.

7) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust element comprises at least a contact surface arranged near said grip element.

8) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contact surface is substantially flat. 9) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust element comprises at least a pin fitted axially sliding in a respective through-hole on said supporting structure.

10) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust element comprises a pair of said pins at a distance from each other fitted axially sliding in respective through-holes on said supporting structure.

11) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pins are made integral with each other by means of a welded connection rod for the connection with said supporting structure and having said contact surface.

12) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least a shaft associated turning axially at said supporting structure and having at least a first protruding extremity at which said grip element is fastened integral. 13) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement transformation means comprise at least a system of levers placed in between said thrust element and said shaft.

14) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system of levers comprises at least a pair of equalizers hinged to said supporting structure.

15) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thrust element has at least an end portion opposite said contact surface suitable for engaging on at least one of said equalizers.

16) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pins of the thrust element have end portions suitable for engaging on respective extremities of said equalizers. 17) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system of levers comprises at least a lever, having a first extremity hinged to said supporting structure and a second opposite extremity associated with said shaft. 18) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system of levers comprises at least a rod having an extremity hinged to said lever and a free extremity suitable for engaging on at least one of said equalizers.

19) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said grip element comprises at least a pin with a substantially elongated shape.

20) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot is of the elongated slot type or the like.

21) Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot is placed on a corner block of a container or the like.