WO2013056272A1

WO2013056272A1 - Container handling method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013056272A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2011/000075
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petrus Johannes Adriaan Van Zyl; Arnoldus Francois JACOBS
Original assignee: 9Dot Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2013-04-18
Also published as: AU2011379178A1; AU2017228557B2; AP2014007620A0; AU2017228557A1

Abstract

The invention provides a container handling apparatus (10) typically used for translocating intermodal containers (110) of closed or open type design, said apparatus including a support frame (12) having beams which, in use, are located proximal to one or more opposed pair of vertical edges (106) and one or more horizontal upper edges (108) of the container (110) to be translocated, securing means on the support frame corresponding to the comer castings of the type of container to be translocated so that the container (1 10) is secured to the support frame using twistlocks, and rotating means for rotating the support frame (12) abbout an external axis (14) which does not pass through the container (110) and is parallel to the longtitudinal axis thereof. The invention extends to a crane using said handling apparatus and to a method of handling intermodal containers.

Description

CONTAINER HANDLING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the handling of standard shipping containers and similar dimensioned containers for transporting coal and other minerals, whether open topped or completely enclosed. In particular the invention provides a method and an apparatus for lifting and, optionally, emptying containers of this type in an efficient manner.

Background to the Invention

An intermodal container or freight container (commonly shipping container) is a reusable transport and storage unit for moving products and raw materials between locations or countries; the terms container or box may be used on their own within the context of shipping. Containers manufactured to ISO specifications may be referred to as ISO containers and the term high-cube container is used for units that are taller than normal. There are approximately seventeen million intermodal containers in the world and a large proportion of the world's long distance freight generated by international trade is transported inside shipping containers (as opposed to break bulk cargo).

The containerization system developed from a design of an 8-foot (2.438 m) cube units used by the United States' military and later standardised by extension to 10-foot (3.05 m), 20-foot (6.10 m), and 40-foot (12.19 m) lengths. Longer, higher and wider variants are now in general use in various places.

l Container variants are available for many different cargo types including coal containers which are transported by train and open topped so that they can be lifted up and tipped to transfer the contents thereof to a desired location.

Containers can be transported by container ship, semi-trailer truck and freight trains as part of a single journey without unpacking and they are transferred between modes by container cranes at container terminals. Units can be secured during handling and in transit using "twistlock" points located at each corner of the container.

Container cranes consistent of a supporting framework that can traverse the length of a quay or yard, and a moving platform called a "spreader". The spreader can be lowered down on top of a container and locks on to the container's four locking points ("cornercastings"), using a "twistlock" mechanism. Cranes normally transport a single container at once, however some newer cranes have the capability to up pick up up to four 20' containers at once. The container is usually transported in a horizontal position so as not to upset the contents thereof. Cargo handling operation is performed by the three different actions of the crane: slewing about a vertical axis in a horizontal plane, luffing and hoisting.

The obvious drawback of this type of container handling apparatus is the space required for the apparatus as well as the gaps between containers required to permit the spreader to engage the cornercastings and to be secured by the twistlocks and then to hoist the container vertically to a clear space in which the crane can slew to displace the container to another location and then to lower the container into position.

The problem becomes even more acute for open top containers which transport mineral ores and coal and which are transported by train or by truck to a point of use and need to be emptied into a feeder hopper or a tipper truck, or the like, from the container. In these situations the open top container needs to be lifted from the train or truck on which it arrives and displaced and positioned into an apparatus which can tip the container to permit the contents thereof to be transferred from out of the container.

The applicant is aware of a system whereby the container is lifted by a container crane of the conventional type and then position onto a container tipper mechanism where it is released from the spreader and the crane can continue with other tasks. The tipper mechanism then tips the container by rotating it about a horizontal axis, typically a longitudinal axis thereof, thereby to pour the contents thereof out through the open top onto the desired feeder hopper, tip truck, or the like.

These systems have several drawbacks but the ones that come to mind first are the number of handling steps and separate machines required to off-load and then empty the container, as well as the special limitations of existing container cranes and the tipper mechanisms described above which limit the proximity of containers to each other in order for the spreader and later the tipper mechanism to be able to operate freely.

Thus, having considered the above, the applicant now proposes the following invention which addresses at least some of the abovementioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container handling apparatus typically used for translocating intermodal containers of closed or open type design, said apparatus including: a support frame having beams which, in use, are located proximal to one or more opposed pair of vertical edges and one or more horizontal upper edges of the container to be translocated;

- securing means on the support frame corresponding to the cornercastings of the type of container to be translocated so that the container is secured to the support frame using twistlocks; and

- rotating means for rotating the support frame about an external axis which does not pass through the container and is parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof.

The support frame may be attached, directly or indirectly, to a load bearing arm of a crane.

The support frame may be attached to a secondary manipulating mechanism which is itself attached to the load bearing arm, said secondary manipulating mechanism including an actuating means for urging the support frame to rotate about said external axis.

The rotating means and the actuating means may thus co-operate in tipping the support frame and the container supported therein to achieve the tipping out of the contents thereof.

The support frame may support the container into the direction in which it is being tipped, thereby permitting un-reinforced open top containers to be used. The support frame may include a chute portion or lip which engages with an edge of the container thereby directing the flow of material from out of the container when it is being tipped out.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a crane for translocating intermodal containers of closed or open type design, said crane having: a ground engaging base portion having a horizontally mounted support axis for supporting one or more load bearing arm thereon; one or more load bearing arm mounted on the horizontal axis for vertical rotation about the axis, pendulum fashion, said load bearing arm having a counter-weight to one side of the axis and a container support frame attachment means on an opposite side of the arm; and drive means for rotating the arm about the axis in a vertical plane from a container engaging position to a position directly above the axis, and to a load releasing position.

The load releasing position may be a tipping position at which the container is tipped to permit the contents thereof to be tipped out through the open top.

The container may be maintained in an upright position throughout the translocation procedure so that containers which contain fragile contents may be translocated without disturbing the contents.

The counterweight and the attachment means may be displaceable along the extent of the load bearing arm to accommodate pick up and off-loading positions which vary. The attachment means may include a secondary manipulating mechanism which is attached to the load bearing arm, said secondary manipulating mechanism including an actuating means for urging the support frame to rotate about said external axis.

The ground engaging base portion may be anchored, mounted on a crawler, be provided with rubber tires, or be displaceable along a railway line.

The horizontal axis height above the ground may be selected to accommodate the counterweight arm length and the available headroom.

The base portion may itself be rotatable in a horizontal plane.

The base portion may be locked in a specific position when a container is being translocated so that the container is not displaced in a horizontal plane, only in a vertical plane.

The load bearing arm may be extendible and retractable. The load bearing arm may have a telescoping action. The counterweight arm may operate in a similar manner.

The container support frame described above may be an integral part of the crane of the invention. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of translocating an intermodal container of closed or open type design, said method including the steps of:

- securing the container to a load bearing arm of a crane; - lifting the container and displacing it along a vertical arcuate trajectory which passes directly over an axis which is the origin of the vertical arc; and maintaining the container in a desired attitude during the translocation.

The method may include translocating the container along a vertical arcuate trajectory from a container engaging position to a position directly above the axis, and to a load releasing position.

The load releasing position may be a sector of the arcuate trajectory in which the container is tipped from an upright attitude, through a 90 degree tip, to an angle at which the contents of the open top container fall from the container under gravity.

The container may be tipped by rotation around a horizontal axis which is external to the container.

The method may provide shaking or otherwise manipulating the open top container to release any material which does not fall from the container under gravity alone. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

Figures 1 to 7 show, in schematic representation, the apparatus and method of the invention in a sequence of positions in which it is lifting, translocating, and off-loading an intermodal container; and

Figures 8 to 11 show, in schematic representation, the apparatus and method of the invention in which, after Figure 5, the secondary mechanism of the invention is used to tip the open top intermodal container so that its contents, typically coal, are emptied into a waiting truck.

In the Figures, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a crane of the invention.

The crane 10 has a ground engaging base portion 12 having a horizontally mounted support axis 14 for supporting a load bearing arm 16 thereon. The arm 16 is mounted on the horizontal axis 14 for vertical rotation about the axis 14, pendulum fashion as shown in the sequence of figures 1 to 7. The arm 16 has a counter-weight 18 to one side 22 of the axis 14 and a container support frame 100 attachment means 24 on an opposite side 26 of the arm. A motor 28 is provided as drive means for rotating the arm 16 about the axis 14 in the vertical plane from a container engaging position in figure 1 to a position directly above the axis in figure 4, and to a load releasing position in figure 7 or figure 11 , depending on the container and cargo type. The support frame 10 has beams 102, 104 which, in use, are located proximal to an opposed pair of vertical edges 106 and three of the horizontal upper edges 108 of the container 110 to be translocated.

Securing means are provided on the support frame 100 corresponding to the corner castings of the intermodal open top container to be translocated so that the container is secured to the support frame 100 using twistlocks.

An axis 112 is provided on the support frame 100, which axis 112 does not pass through the container 110 and is thus termed an external axis of rotation for the container. The axis 112 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 110. A drive means 114, which may be hydraulic or electric, is provided on the secondary manipulating mechanism 115 of the support frame 100 and is used to rotate the support frame 100 and the container 0 about the axis 12 as shown in the sequence of figures 8 to 11.

The support frame 100 supports the container 110 into the direction in which it is being tipped, thereby permitting un-reinforced open top containers to be used.

The support frame 100 includes a chute portion or lip 120 which directs the flow of coal from out of the container when it is being tipped out.

In figures 6 and 7, which is another embodiment from that described in figures 8 to 11 , the container 110 is maintained in an upright position throughout the translocation procedure so that containers which contain fragile contents may be translocated without disturbing the contents.

Claims

1. A container handling apparatus typically used for translocating intermodal containers of closed or open type design, said apparatus including: a support frame having beams which, in use, are located proximal to one or more opposed pair of vertical edges and one or more horizontal upper edges of the container to be translocated;

- securing means on the support frame corresponding to the corner castings of the type of container to be translocated so that the container is secured to the support frame using twistlocks; and - rotating means for rotating the support frame about an external axis which does not pass through the container and is parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof.

2. A container handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support frame is attached, directly or indirectly, to a load bearing arm of a crane.

3. A container handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support frame is attached to a secondary manipulating mechanism which is itself attached to the load bearing arm, said secondary manipulating mechanism including an actuating means for urging the support frame to rotate about said external axis.

4. A container handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotating means and the actuating means thus co-operate in tipping the support frame and the container supported therein to achieve the tipping out of the contents thereof.

5. A container handling apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame supports the container into the direction in which it is being tipped, thereby permitting un-reinforced open top containers to be used.

6. A container handling apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame includes a chute portion or lip which engages with an edge of the container thereby directing the flow of material from out of the container when it is being tipped out.

7. A crane for translocating intermodal containers of closed or open type design, said crane having: a ground engaging base portion having a horizontally mounted support axis for supporting one or more load bearing arm thereon; one or more load bearing arm mounted on the horizontal axis for vertical rotation about the axis, pendulum fashion, said load bearing arm having a counter-weight to one side of the axis and a container support frame attachment means on an opposite side of the arm; and drive means for rotating the arm about the axis in a vertical plane from a container engaging position to a position directly above the axis, and to a load releasing position.

8. A crane as claimed in claim 7, wherein the load releasing position is a tipping position at which the container is tipped to permit the contents thereof to be tipped out through the open top.

9. A crane as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, which maintains the container in an upright position throughout the translocation procedure so that containers which contain fragile contents are translocated without disturbing the contents.

10. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the counterweight and the attachment means are displaceable along the extent of the load bearing arm to accommodate pick up and off-loading positions which vary.

11. A crane as claimed in claim 10, wherein the attachment means includes a secondary manipulating mechanism which is attached to the load bearing arm, said secondary manipulating mechanism including an actuating means for urging the support frame to rotate about said external axis.

12. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 , wherein the horizontally mounted support axis height above the ground is selected to accommodate the counterweight arm length and the available headroom.

13. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the base portion is rotatable in a horizontal plane.

14. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the base portion is locked in a specific position when a container is being translocated so that the container is not displaced in a horizontal plane, only in a vertical plane.

15. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the load bearing arm is extendible and retractable.

16. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the counterweight arm is extendible and retractable.

17. A crane as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 16, which includes a container handling apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

18. A method of translocating an intermodal container of closed or open type design, said method including the steps of:

- securing the container to a load bearing arm of a crane;

- lifting the container and displacing it along a vertical arcuate trajectory which passes directly over an axis which is the origin of the vertical arc; and maintaining the container in a desired attitude during the translocation.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, which includes translocating the container along a vertical arcuate trajectory from a container engaging position to a position directly above the axis, and to a load releasing position.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the load releasing position is a sector of an arcuate trajectory in which the container is tipped from an upright attitude, through a 90 degree tip, to an angle at which the contents of the open top container fall from the container under gravity.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the container is tipped by rotation around a horizontal axis which is external to the container.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21 , which includes shaking or otherwise manipulating the open top container to release any material which does not fall from the container under gravity alone.