WO2014168487A1

WO2014168487A1 - Attachment device and method for use of same

Info

Publication number: WO2014168487A1
Application number: PCT/NO2014/050053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teo JACOBSEN; Kjell Inge DIRDAL
Original assignee: Icone As
Priority date: 2013-04-12
Filing date: 2014-04-10
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Also published as: NO338011B1; NO20130508A1

Abstract

An attachment device (1) and a method of using the same are described, the attachment device comprising a holding device (2) arranged to be attached to a coupling eye (3) in a container sling (4), the holding device (2) being arranged to hold the coupling eye (3) in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook (7), a connecting device (6) arranged to be attached to the hoisting hook (7), the connecting device (6) further being arranged to receive the coupling eye (3) held by the holding device (2), and a centring device (8), the centring device (8) being arranged to rotate at least one of the holding device (2) and the connecting device (6) and hold the holding device (2) and the connecting device (6) fixed in a position in which the hoisting hook (7) can be connected to the coupling eye (3), the centring device (8) consisting of the inner surface of the connecting device (6), the horizontal cross section of said inner surface changing gradually from a cross section including a circular opening in a lower portion into a cross section including an oval opening in an upper portion.

Description

ATTACHMENT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USE OF SAME

The invention relates to an attachment device comprising a holding device arranged to be attached to a coupling eye in a container sling, the holding device being arranged to hold the coupling eye in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook, and a connecting device arranged to be attached to the hoisting hook, the connecting device further being arranged to receive the coupling eye held by the holding device.

Today, when lifting containers with a loading wire with an attachment implement mounted thereon, it is common for the attachment implement to be attached manually to the coupling eye of the lifting sling. This may lead to dangerous situations for personnel involved, both because of the risk of blows from the attachment implement and because of an unstable supporting surface, for example if the container is on a boat deck.

US 6036248 A discloses an attachment device consisting of a holding device including a coupling eye, the holding device being arranged to hold the coupling eye in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook, and a connecting device arranged to be attached to a hoisting hook, the connecting device further being arranged to receive the coupling eye held by the holding device. The attachment device also includes a centring device.

From the Norwegian patent 324006 an attachment-implement device including a lifting hook is known, the attachment implement being provided with at least one magnet, the distance of the magnet to a coupling eye being smaller when the coupling eye is in a hook-up position relative to the hook than when the coupling eye is offset relative to the hook-up position. The drawback of the solution mentioned is that the internal magnets must have a certain proximity to the coupling eye to function as intended. The size of the connector is thus restricted by the dimension of the coupling eye to function. The Norwegian patent number 327034 deals with a design of containers for use in transporting goods between land bases and offshore platforms and rigs, where the loading and unloading operations are carried out by cranes, and where the container is connected non-manually to the crane. The top of the container consists of a sloping top plate, a lifting ring, a circular hole and a cone. The drawback of the solution mentioned is that purpose-built containers with a recess in the top plate are required. Said recess in the top plate will also reduce the load volume of the container. Further, the price may increase by the container roof having to be reinforced considerably compared with normal container roofs, in order to prevent the roof from being ripped off when the container is carrying cargo. Further, the price will be increased by the locking mechanism having to be present on every container instead of on the crane cable.

The Norwegian patent number 322881 discloses a method of receiving and securing a loading wire with a cargo hook when unloading cargo units from the deck of a vessel, the loading wire with the cargo hook being guided down towards and received through a large-area upper opening in a receiving device, the receiving device being of such a design that the cargo hook is guided from the upper opening to a lower opening of a smaller area than the upper opening, and the hook temporarily being held fixed at the lower opening. A device for practising the method is described as well.

The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

In a first aspect, the invention relates more specifically to an attachment device comprising :

- a holding device arranged to be attached to a coupling eye in a container sling, the holding device being arranged to hold the coupling eye in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook, and

- a connecting device arranged to be attached to the hoisting hook, the connecting device further being arranged to receive the coupling eye held by the holding device, the attachment device further comprising a centring device arranged to rotate at least one of the holding device and the connecting device and hold the holding device and the connecting device fixed in a position in which the hoisting hook can be connected to the coupling eye, the centring device consisting of the inner surface of the connecting device, the horizontal cross section of said inner surface changing gradually from a cross section including a circular opening in a lower portion into a cross section including an oval opening in an upper portion.

The invention according to the first aspect enables remote control of the attachment and detachment of load as said holding device is pre-attached to coupling eyes on container slings of a known type, holding the coupling eye in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook. It must be understood that even though the invention is described here for use in connection with the lifting of containers, the same invention may have several areas of application, such as hose handling, lowering and hoisting of man-over-board (MOB) boats, lifting of pipes and the like.

As the hoisting hook is connected to said connecting device and the connecting device complementarily fits the holding device, the connecting device may be lowered over the holding device with the coupling eye and, by means of the centring device, the coupling eye and the hoisting hook will be placed in optimal positions for connection. The optimal position may be, for example, that the coupling eye is standing upright, in a vertical position, and transversally to the hoisting hook. The centring device may consist of the inner surface of the connecting device, the horizontal cross section of said inner surface gradually changing from a cross section including a circular opening in a lower portion into a cross section including an oval opening in an upper portion. Such a change in the cavity of the connecting device will bring about a rotational movement of at least one of the connecting device or the holding device as the coupling eye is guided from the circular opening and further into the oval opening.

The connecting device will preferably be formed in such a way that it surrounds the hoisting hook and, thus, exerts a shock-absorbing and protective function preventing damage to the hoisting hook.

The upper portion of the holding device may be formed with an opening, through which the coupling eye is held in a position suitable for connection to the hoisting hook. The coupling eye may thus be fixed inside the holding device; for example, the coupling eye may be fixed to a horizontal disc inside the holding device, the disc being supported on rollers. The rollers make the coupling eye rotatable around the vertical axis. The coupling eye may also be fixed by, for example, being guided into at least one, preferably two, grooves or recesses in the upper portion of the holding device and possibly being additionally fixed there in a manner known per se.

In one embodiment, said opening may be centredly located in the top of the holding device, the coupling eye thus forming the topmost portion of the holding device when the holding device and the coupling eye have been attached to each other. The holding device could conceivably also be a rod, pin or other supporting device which allows the coupling eye to be held in position for connection. In some of the above- mentioned areas of application, such as hose handling and pipe handling, this would be preferred.

The holding device may comprise an upper part and a lower part which are rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the holding device. Such a two-part division of the holding device makes it possible for the necessary rotation of the coupling eye relative to the hoisting hook to take place in the holding device instead of, or in addition to, in the connecting device.

In one embodiment, the holding device and the connecting device may be formed as hollow truncated cones. With the holding device formed as a hollow truncated cone, the previously mentioned opening in the holding device may be in the top of the truncated cone and the coupling eye will thus, when it is attached to the holding device, form the topmost tip of the holding device. This is advantageous because the coupling eye is centred in the holding device, and, with a corresponding design of the connecting device, the hoisting hook will be centred in the connecting device. When the connecting device, whose cone shape is of such a size as to fit complementarily externally on the holding device, is moved down over the holding device, the hoisting hook will come into an optimum position for gripping the coupling eye.

The connecting device may further include a protective bell arranged to accommodate the hoisting hook. This has the effect of shielding the hoisting hook from bumps and blows, and there is thus less risk of damaging the hoisting hook.

In another embodiment, the holding device and the connecting device may be formed as oval cones, for example elliptic cones, wherein the holding device comprises at least one outer ridge or projection that corresponds to at least one inner ridge in the connecting device. The outer ridge of the holding device will thus hit the inner surface of the connecting device as the connecting device is lowered over the holding device, and thus initiate a turning of one or both of the holding device and the connecting device, so that the inner surface of the connecting device tightly encloses the outer surface of the holding device.

In those cases in which the holding device consists of a rod, pin or an equivalent, as earlier mentioned, the above-mentioned turning will be initiated by the contact of the coupling eye with the inner surface of the connecting device. At least in a portion of the centring device, the oval opening may have a design which is arranged to tightly enclose the coupling eye. The greater the correspondence is between the oval opening and the coupling eye that it is to enclose, the more stably the coupling eye is held relative to the hoisting hook, and the easier the attachment is.

The centring device may comprise at least one magnet placed in an upper portion of the connecting device. Magnets may, either alone or in combination with the previously mentioned, changed cross section of the inner surface of the connecting device, bring about the necessary rotation to get the hoisting hook and the coupling eye into the optimum positions relative to each other. The magnet may be an electromagnet connected to a battery pack which is mounted on the connecting device; the electromagnet could thus be activated for a desired time interval as the holding device and the connecting device achieve full contact. The magnetic field will have a righting effect on the coupling eye.

The connecting device may include a light source. Said light source may be, for example, an LED lamp, but is not limited thereto. By the connecting device being provided with a light source, the work will be simplified for the crane driver who is to guide the connecting device down over the holding device. The diameter of the light cone will become smaller and smaller as the connecting device approaches the container roof, and thereby the holding device, and will disappear completely as full contact is achieved between the connecting device and the holding device.

In a second aspect, the invention relates more specifically to a method comprising the steps of:

- attaching a holding device to a coupling eye in a container sling, the holding device being arranged to hold the coupling eye in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook;

- attaching a connecting device to a hoisting hook on a loading wire;

- lowering the hoisting hook with the connecting device over the holding device;

the method further comprising the step of:

- rotating at least one of the connecting device and the holding device by means of a centring device, so that the hoisting hook comes into position to grip the coupling eye. Hoisting and lifting operations may thus be remote-controlled as no form of manual operation is required in order to attach the hoisting hook to the coupling eye.

Lifting having been completed, the hoisting hook is opened and the connecting device with the hoisting hook is lifted straight up so that the holding device is released and left on the container, still holding the coupling eye. In what follows, an example of a preferred embodiment is described, which is visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment device according to the invention, in which a holding device is attached to the coupling eye of a container sling of a known type and a connecting device is connected to a hoisting hook;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment device of figure 1 as the connecting device is in contact with the holding device and is being rotated down over it;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the attachment device of figures 1 and 2, the holding device and the connecting device having been connected to each other and being lifted;

Figure 4a is a top plan view of the attachment device as the connecting device is being guided in over the holding device;

Figure 4b is a side plan view of the attachment device in the same position as in figure 4a;

Figure 4c is a plan view showing the attachment device of figure 4b along the sectional plane A-A shown in figure 4a;

Figure 5a is a top plan view of the attachment device as the connecting device is being rotated down over the holding device;

Figure 5b is a side plan view of the attachment device in the same position as in figure 5a;

Figure 5c is a plan view showing the attachment device of figure 5b along the sectional plane B-B shown in figure 5a;

Figure 6a is a top plan view of the attachment device as the coupling eye enters the top of the cone shape of the connecting device;

Figure 6b is a side plan view of the attachment device in the same position as in figure 6a;

Figure 6c is a plan view showing the attachment device of figure 6b along the sectional plane C-C shown in figure 6a; Figure 7a is a top plan view of the attachment device as the hoisting hook grips the coupling eye;

Figure 7b is a side plan view of the attachment device in the same position as in figure 7a;

Figure 7c is a plan view showing the attachment device of figure 7b along the sectional plane D-D shown in figure 7a;

Figure 8a is a top plan view of the attachment device during lifting;

Figure 8b is a side plan view of the attachment device in the same position as in figure 8a;

Figure 8c is a plan view showing the attachment device of figure 8b along the sectional plane E-E shown in figure 8a;

Figure 8d shows the same as figure 8c, but the connecting device is provided with a magnet;

Figure 9a shows the attachment device in a side view, as the connecting device is being aligned above the holding device with the coupling eye waiting;

Figure 9b is a top plan view of the sectional plane F-F indicated in figure 9a;

Figure 10a shows the attachment device in a side view, the connecting device being rotated down over the holding device with the coupling eye waiting;

Figure 10b is a top plan view of the sectional plane G-G indicated in figure 10a;

Figure 10c shows the same as figure 10b, but the connecting device is provided with a magnet;

Figure 11a shows the attachment device in a side view, the coupling eye entering through the top of the cone-shaped part of the connecting device;

Figure l ib is a top plan view of the sectional plane H-H indicated in figure 11a;

Figure 12a shows the attachment device as the holding device and the connecting device have been connected to each other, and five different, horizontal, sectional planes are indicated; Figures 12b-12f show plan views of the five different sectional planes indicated in figure 12a; I-I, J-J, K-K, L-L and M-M, respectively;

Figure 13a is a perspective view of the attachment device;

Figure 13b is an exploded perspective view of the attachment device of figure 13a;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, in which a holding device is attached to the coupling eye of a container sling of a known type and a connecting device is connected to a hoisting hook;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the attachment device;

Figure 16a shows the attachment device as the coupling eye and the hoisting hook have been brought into position to be connected to each other; and

Figure 16b shows the cross section K-K indicated in figure 16a.

Indications of position and orientation, such as upper, lower, over, under, vertical and horizontal relate to the positions shown in the figures.

Like reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent elements in the different figures.

Figure 1 shows an attachment device 1 in accordance with the invention, in which the holding device 2 of the attachment device 1 is attached to a coupling eye 3 of a container sling 4 on a container 5. A connecting device 6 of the attachment device 1, including a cone-shaped lower portion 61 and a superstructure 62, is attached to a hoisting hook 7 and is lowered towards the container 5 by means of a hoisting device not shown.

Figure 2 shows the attachment device 1 of figure 1 as the connecting device 6, while being rotated, is lowered over the holding device 2.

Figure 3 shows the attachment device 1 of figures 1 and 2 during lifting.

Figure 4a shows the attachment device 1 as the connecting device 6 is guided in over the holding device 2. Further, figure 4b shows the attachment device 1 in the same position, but in a side view, whereas figure 4c shows the sectional plane A-A indicated in figure 4a. The holding device 2 is shown here as being divided into a lower part 21 and an upper part 22 which are rotatable relative to each other around the vertical axis of the holding device 2. Figure 5a shows the attachment device 1 as the connecting device 6, while being rotated, is lowered over the holding device 2. Further, figure 5b shows the attachment device 1 in the same position, but in a side view, whereas figure 5c shows the sectional plane B-B indicated in figure 5a.

Figure 6a shows the attachment device 1 as the coupling eye 3 comes out through the top of the cone-shaped lower portion 61 of the connecting device 6. Further, figure 6b shows the attachment device 1 in the same position, but in a side view, whereas figure 6c shows the sectional plane C-C indicated in figure 6a.

Figure 7a shows the attachment device 1 as the hoisting hook 7 grips the coupling eye 3. Further, figure 7b shows the attachment device 1 in the same position, but in a side view, whereas figure 7c shows the sectional plane D-D indicated in figure 7a.

The hoisting hook is activated via remote control by the crane driver, for example. In one prior-art embodiment, the hoisting hook 7 is provided with a sensor in connection with a magnet that is placed above the hoisting hook itself. As the coupling eye 3 touches said magnet, a signal is transmitted, for example in a wireless manner, to a control panel, so that the hoisting hook may be activated. However, more possible ways of registering that the hoisting hook 7 and the coupling eye 3 are in the right positions relative to each other are conceivable. Another possible solution is a pressure switch on the attachment device 1, so that when the cone-shaped portion of the connecting device 6 and the holding device 2 are in full contact, the pressure switch is activated and a signal is sent to the control panel. Other sensor devices, such as an optical sensor, would also be suitable for the purpose. The activation of the hoisting hook 7 thus takes place by the crane driver starting, via remote control, a motor, for example an electromotor, which is placed in connection with the hoisting hook 7.

Figure 8a shows the attachment device 1 as a hoisting device not shown lifts the attachment device 1 and thereby its connected load (not shown). Further, figure 8b shows the attachment device 1 in the same position, but in a side view, whereas figure 8c shows the sectional plane E-E indicated in figure 8a. In figure 8d, the same sectional plane E-E is shown, but in an embodiment in which the connecting device 6 is provided with a magnet.

Figure 9a, 10a and 11a show how the coupling eye 3 is guided in different stages towards an opening in the upper part of the cone-shaped lower portion 61 of the connecting device 6. Figures 9b, 10b and lib show top plan views of the sectional planes F-F, G-G and H-H indicated in figures 9a, 10a and 11a, respectively. Figure 10c shows the same as figure 10b, therefore a top plan view of the sectional plane G-G, but the connecting device 6 is provided with a magnet.

Figures 12a-12f illustrate how a centring device 8 may consist of a changed horizontal cross section of the inner cavity of the connecting device. The sectional planes I-I, J-J, K-K, L-L and M-M are indicated in figure 12a and then shown as top plan views in figures 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e and 12f, respectively.

Figure 13a shows an attachment device 1 according to the invention, in which the holding device 2 is connected to the connecting device 6. In figure 13b, the same attachment device 1 is shown in an exploded sketch.

Figure 14 shows another embodiment of the attachment device 1 according to the invention. Here, the holding device 2 and the connecting device 6 are both shown as oval cones, for instance elliptical cones. The oval design of the holding device 2 involves the outer surface of the holding device 2 including at least one ridge that will come into abutment against the inner surface of the connecting device 6. Because of the corresponding design of the connecting device 6, in which the inner surface includes a circular cross section in a lower portion and then a gradually smaller oval cross section, said ridge of the holding device will initiate a rotation of one or both of the connecting device 6 and the holding device 2 as it comes into contact with the inner surface of the connecting device 6. The holding device may possibly be formed in such a way that it is the coupling eye 3 that first comes into contact with the inner surface of the connecting device 6 and thus initiates the rotation mentioned.

Figure 15 shows the attachment device 1 of figure 14. The holding device 2 is connected to a coupling eye 3, and the connecting device 6 is connected to a hoisting hook 7. The holding device 2 and the connecting device 6 do not comprise any load- supporting elements in themselves, but are connected, then, to a coupling eye 3 and a hoisting hook 7 of known types.

In figure 16a, the connecting device 6 has been lowered all the way over the holding device 2, and the coupling eye 3 is in position for connection to the hoisting hook 7. The section K-K is indicated in figure 16a and is shown in figure 16b. It appears clearly from figure 16b how the oval cone shape brings about an orientation of the coupling eye 3 relative to the hoisting hook 7 that allows easy hook-up.

It should be noted that all the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and persons skilled in the art may design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the dependent claims. In the claims, ref- erence numerals in brackets are not to be considered restrictive. The use of the verb "comprise" and different forms thereof, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article in front of an element does not exclude the presence of several elements like that.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. An attachment device (1) comprising :

- a holding device (2) arranged to be attached to a coupling eye (3) in a container sling (4), the holding device (2) being arranged to hold the coupling eye (3) in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook (7),

- a connecting device (6) arranged to be attached to the hoisting hook (7), the connecting device (6) further being arranged to receive the coupling eye (3) held by the holding device (2), and

- a centring device (8),

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the centring device (8) is arranged to rotate at least one of the holding device (2) and the connecting device (6) and hold the holding device (2) and the connecting device (6) fixed in a position in which the hoisting hook (7) can be connected to the coupling eye (3), the centring device (8) consisting of the inner surface of the connecting device (6), the horizontal cross section of said inner surface changing gradually from a cross section including a circular opening in a lower portion into a cross section including an oval opening in an upper portion.

2. The attachment device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the holding device (2) is formed with an opening (23) through which the coupling eye (3) is held in a position suitable for connection to the hoisting hook (7).

3. The attachment device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding device (2) comprises an upper part (22) and a lower part (21) which are ro- tatable around the longitudinal axis of the holding device (2).

4. The attachment device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the holding device (2) and the connecting device (6) are formed as hollow truncated cones.

5. The attachment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting device (6) further comprises a protective superstructure (62) arranged to accommodate the hoisting hook (7).

6. The attachment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in a portion of the centring device (8), the oval opening has a design which is arranged to enclose the coupling eye (3) tightly.

7. The attachment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the centring device (8) comprises at least one magnet placed in an upper portion of the connecting device (6) .

8. The attachment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting device (6) comprises a light source.

9. A method of using the attachment device (1) according to claim 1, the

method comprising the steps of:

- attaching a holding device (2) to a coupling eye (3) in a container sling (4), the holding device (2) being arranged to hold the coupling eye (3) in a position suitable for connection to a hoisting hook (7);

- attaching a connecting device (6) to a hoisting hook (7) on a loading wire;

- lowering the hoisting hook (7) with the connecting device (6) over the holding device (2);

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the method comprises the step of

- rotating at least one of the connecting device (6) and the holding device (2) by means of a centring device (8), so that the hoisting hook (7) comes into position for gripping the coupling eye (3).