WO2020101504A1

WO2020101504A1 - Handling device for lifting or handling of a load

Info

Publication number: WO2020101504A1
Application number: PCT/NO2019/050248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Trond Skretting SANDVOLD; Arnfinn Matre
Original assignee: Evolift As
Priority date: 2018-11-12
Filing date: 2019-11-12
Publication date: 2020-05-22
Also published as: NO347255B1; NO20181447A1

Abstract

A handling device for lifting or handling of a load (1), comprising a hook assembly (3) comprising a hook (14) and a housing (17) at least partially surrounding the hook (14), and a guide (2) comprising a top opening and base (2a), said guide (2) being connect-able to the load (1), wherein said guide (2) is funnel shaped with an oblong cross-section and arranged to receive and orient said hook assembly (3), said hook assembly (3) being provided with an oblong cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of said guide (2), allowing the hook assembly (3) to turn about a vertical hook assembly axis while being lowered into the guide (2), enabling engagement of the hook with a bow (7), said bow (7) being arranged at the base (2a) to be received by the hook assembly (3) when the hook assembly (3) has been oriented by the guide (7) and lowered towards the base (2a).

Description

HANDLING DEVICE FOR LIFTING OR HANDLING OF A LOAD

The present invention relates to handling devices for lifting or handling of a load, such as an intermodal container, buoy, structure or other applications related to onshore, inshore, offshore and sub-sea lifting operations without the need for intervention of personnel. The invention is especially directed to a handling device for lifting loads, such as container loads to and from vessels, such as a supply ship that transport goods between a port and an offshore drilling or production facility. In addition, the invention is also suitable for lifting loads between vessels or between a vessel and a port facility, offshore installation, buoy etc. It is common to load the goods into intermodal containers (i.e. standard sized con- tainers), hoist the containers with the use of a crane on board the ship, and secure the containers on the deck of the ship. When the ship reaches the offload site, such as an offshore facility, the containers are hoisted, again by using a crane, on board the offshore facility. Empty containers and containers carrying waste material are in turn hoisted on board the vessel for transport to the shore. Several other applications of the invention could also be utilized, such as lifting of non-intermodular containers, tanks, special equip ment, buoys, parts for windmills etc.

It is generally necessary to have persons involved, who can connect or disconnect the crane wire with the container lifting slings that generally are permanently attached to the load. A major challenge, especially when a load, such as containers, are hoisted between the supply vessel and the offshore facility, is that the sea is rarely calm. Accordingly, there is usually a substantial motion between the vessel and the facility. Heave compensation systems in the crane may take some of the motion into account, but nevertheless there is a high risk for persons who are working on the deck of the vessel. Fatal accidents have occurred during such operations. It has therefore for a long time been a desire to remove the necessity of having someone on deck to perform connection and disconnection.

Several attempts have been made to achieve connection and disconnection without direct hand manipulation by human beings.

One such attempt is described in SE 339299, which shows a device for automatic cou pling of a crane wire to a lifting unit. The automatic coupling will probably work fine, but the lifting unit is not suitable for lifting containers at sea. The lifting unit is L-shaped and has one part that extends under the load while other parts extend vertically along the load and to a position directly above the load. This means that a fairly bulky and heavy lifting unit must be attached to the load before the automatic connection can be made. If the lifting unit were to be made sufficiently sturdy and strong to lift an intermodal container, it would be too heavy to be handled by hand. Consequently, it would have to be lifted in place by a crane, but with the necessity of a human hand to steer it to the right position. Consequently, at least one person on deck would be necessary.

The lifting unit would be much too bulky for pre-installation on the container before the container is shipped.

Another device is described in W02006/078170, which shows a coupling frame which is connected to the load by slings. The coupling frame can connect automatically to hooking head attached to a crane wire. The coupling frame can rest on top of the load when not used for lifting.

A major drawback of the device according to WO 2006/078170 is that the coupling frame is fixed to the load only by slack wires or chains. Consequently, it is possible for the cou pling frame to shift its position and it may also fall off the load and end up hanging down the side of the load, which will most certainly occur frequently with the movement at sea. This makes it difficult for the crane operator to mate the hooking head with the coupling frame. If the coupling frame falls off the top of the load, a person will have to put it back, and thereby put him- or herself at personal risk.

In another embodiment of the device of WO 2006/078170, the coupling frame is made an integral part of the load. This removes the above disadvantages but will require a very durable connection to the load. Such integration with the load therefore requires specially manufactured containers and all of the containers that are employed today will have to be put out of use.

GB 2408251 describes a device, which in some embodiments are similar to the device of WO 2006/078170. In one embodiment the coupling frame is placed on top of the load but has parts that extend over the side edges of the load. This makes the frame very bulky and heavy. Despite this attempt to secure the frame on top of the load, it may shift at rough sea and due to being fairly large and heavy, it may also damage other containers on the ship.

In another embodiment, the coupling frame is attached to the load through a telescopic guide tube. Although this may work for the lifting procedure as such, the relatively large diameter guide tube is highly susceptible to damage if the load should swing to a great extent during the lifting. This type of movement of the load will occur frequently when lift ing is performed at sea. Moreover, the lower telescopic part of the guide tube will have to be fixed fairly well to the load, which means that it will take a considerable time to retrofit existing containers with this device. Moreover, it would be very difficult to guide the grip ping head into the coupling frame, especially at open sea when the load is to be lifted be tween a supply ship and an offshore installation.

A specific challenge of automatic lifting systems is that the lifting unit often must be orient ed in a specific orientation to be able to mate with the corresponding receptacle on the load. In GB 2408251 the orientation problem has been solved by equipping the lifting unit with a propeller that is adapted to turn the lifting unit when required. This is a very compli cated and unreliable solution.

Other attempts to arrive at better lifting solutions are described in NO 331335, NO 321760, NO 19994724, FR 2744712 and WO 2005/1 13405. Every one of these exhibits one or more of the above drawbacks.

A device that solved the problems of the above prior art solutions is shown in NO 336096 and it’s UK counterpart GB 2515461. This describes a device for load lifting, which is safe to use, removes the necessity for persons to be present on deck for connecting and dis connecting the load and the crane wire, and which can be easily retrofitted on existing containers. The solution comprises a lifting unit adapted for coupling to a crane wire; a sling having first and second ends, said sling being attached at first ends to the load; load connector attached to second ends of said sling; and a generally funnel shaped load con nector guide coupled to the load; said load connector being adapted for selective coupling with said lifting unit; said load connector guide being adapted to guide said load connector and said lifting unit towards a specific point on top of the load.

Although, the above solution solved the problems as intended, it has turned out that there are a few remaining obstacles to putting it into use. The main obstacle is that the load bearing items, lifting unit, which replaces the hook of the conventional lifting appliances, and load connector, which replaces the master link of the conventional lifting appliances, are special components, which have to go through an extensive and expensive certifica tion procedure.

Moreover, these two items are not suitable for use together with conventional lifting appli ances, which means that both the crane and the load have to be equipped with lifting ap pliances according to the solution of NO 336096 and GB 2515461 . This creates logistic problems as the carrier needs to ascertain well in advance which type of lifting appliance the crane at the destination is equipped with. If it turns out that the crane equipped with the special lifting appliance is not possible to use, such as being out of order, using an other crane may be difficult as it may not be equipped with the special lifting appliance.

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

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

One objective of the present invention is to make use of already certified lifting appliances while still maintaining the advantages achieved by NO 336096 and GB 2515461 , in par ticular the removal of the need for personnel to be present close to the load to connect and disconnect the hook.

Another objective of the present invention is to be able to use conventional lifting appli ances when needed, possibly with the aid of manual coupling between the hook and load.

The invention provides for remotely operated connection and disconnection of the hook to the load. This can be accomplished also when the load and the crane are in relative mo tion.

The invention may facilitate the use of autonomous vessels for transport of goods.

The invention may also be used in connection with automated or remote handling of equipment on board unmanned installations.

The invention is defined by the independent patent claim. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

More specifically, the invention relates to a handling device for lifting or handling of a load, comprising a hook assembly comprising a hook and a housing that at least partially sur- rounds the hook, and a guide comprising a wider top opening and narrower base, said guide being connectable to a load. The invention is characterised in that said guide is fun nel shaped with an oblong first cross-section gradually decreasing from the top opening to the base and is arranged to receive and orient said hook assembly, said hook assembly being provided with an oblong second cross-section corresponding to the internal first cross-section of said guide, allowing the hook assembly to turn about a vertical hook as sembly axis while being lowered into the guide, to enable engagement of the hook with bow, such as a master link or shackle, said bow being arranged at the base of the guide to be received by the hook assembly when the hook assembly has been oriented by the guide and lowered towards the base.

The housing may have an opening that is adapted to receive an upper end of the bow. Thereby is ensured that the bow will only enter the housing when the housing is correctly oriented.

The bow may be attached to a foot, which holds the bow in an upright position. This en sures that the bow is in a position to be readily received by the hook assembly.

The foot may have an opening to receive and hold the bow.

The foot may be adapted for releasable attachment to a seat. Thereby the foot can follow the bow during the lifting and have a predefined position when the bow and foot is re placed within the guide after the lifting has been completed. The hook may be a remotely operated or automatic hook. This will remove the necessity of personnel to connect and disconnect the bow and the hook.

The lifting force from the load may be transferred through the bow, the hook and a crane or winch wire, and the housing, guide and the foot not being subject to the lifting force. This removes or greatly reduces the necessity of certification of these components.

Hence, a standard hook and bow, such as a master link, which is already certified, can be used.

The bow may be a shackle fixedly attached to the load.

The guide may comprise a guide wall formed by several pins extending from the base of the guide. Alternatively, the funnel shaped guide may comprise a guide wall formed by a plate material extending from the base of the guide, the guide wall being provided with several slits extending from the base to the top opening of the funnel shaped guide. The invention will now be described in detail, referring to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, where:

Figure 1 shows an intermodal container equipped with a guiding device of the inven tion and being lifted with lifting appliances according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a guide and an encapsulated hook of the invention, Figure 3 shows the guide and encapsulated hook in a different view, Figure 4 shows the guide with a master link arranged within it and the encapsulated hook, all in shown in an axial cross-section,

Figure 5 shows a similar view as in figure 4 but with the hook about to couple to the master link,

Figure 6 shows a similar view as in figure 5 but with the hook coupled to the master link,

Figure 7 shows a similar view as in figure 6 in a lifting mode, Figure 8 shows a buoy about to be lifted by the hook assembly, Figure 9 shows the buoy and hook assembly in cross-section, and

Figure 10 shows the lifting of the intermodal container wherein the guide follows the master link during the lifting.

Referring to figure 1 , is shown an intermodal container 1 on top of which has been con nected a guide 2 according to the invention. The guide 2 may be of the same type as de- scribed in the above-mentioned NO 336096/GB 2515461 , which are incorporated herein by reference. More specifically, a funnel shaped guide 2 is connected. It comprises a cen tral member in the form of a base 2a (see figure 4). A multitude of elongate members in the form of pins or tubes 9 are fixed to the base 2a and extends generally upward from this, forming a guide wall 9a (see figure 2). The pins or tubes 9 are flared outwardly at least at a portion from their free ends, so that their top portion lie in the imaginary plane of a funnel. The guide 2 is arranged with a wider top opening and a narrower bottom. Alter natively, the guide wall 9a may also be made by forming slits in an otherwise continuous guide wall made of a plate material. The guide 2 itself differs from the guide of NO 336096/GB 2515461 by being oblong, such as oval, in shape in the horizontal plane, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to a centre axis of the funnel shaped guide 2, while the known guide is circular in shape. The reason for this will be explained below.

Above the container 1 is a lifting hook assembly 3 according to the invention. It is coupled to bow, such as a master link 7 and a bow retaining foot 8. Slings 6 are coupled between the master link 7 and corners of the container 1 in a per se known way.

Instead of the foot 8, the master link can be received directly in a seat, such as a slit, at the bottom of the guide 2, which holds the master link 7 in an upright position.

Figure 2 shows a close-up of the guide 2 and hook assembly 3. At the bottom of the guide

2 is arranged a master link 7, which is attached to a foot 8.

Figure 3 shows the guide 2 from above. The oblong shape is clearly visible in this view. The hook assembly 3, which is attached to a crane or winch (not shown) by a wire 10, also has an oblong, such as oval, shape. This shape corresponds to the internal shape of the funnel 2, so that the hook assembly fits inside the funnel 2. When the hook assembly

3 is lowered into the funnel 2 it will turn about the vertical axis due to interaction with the pins of the funnel 2 until the long horizontal axis of the hook assembly 3 is aligned with the long horizontal axis of the guide 2.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through the guide 2 and the hook assembly 3. In this view it is shown that the foot 8 has a slit 1 1 into which the master link 7 fits. The fit is a tight fit so that the master link does not easily escape from the slit. Preferably, the foot 8 is made of rubber, plastic, such as polyurethane, or a similar pliable material, which grips the mas ter link 7 tightly but without causing damage.

The foot also has recess 12 at the underside, the recess is preferably conical and corre sponds with a protruding seat 13, which is attached to or forms an integral part of the guide 2. The purpose of the seat 13 is to guide the foot into and keep the foot 8 at a pre determined location within the guide 2. The seat 13 and recess 12 may have a shape that acts to turn the foot, and hence the master link 7 in a specific direction relative to the guide and to keep the foot in this direction irrespective of movements induced during transport of the container 1 .

The hook assembly 3 comprises a hook 14, which is pivotably coupled to a swivel 15, which in turn is coupled to the crane wire 10. The hook is preferably an automatic hook, such as the automatic hook marketed by Elbelia Autohooks (elebia.com/lifting-hooks-for- cranes/). This type of hook contains an actuator that can move the hook 14 into and out of engagement with the master link 7. The actuator is too weak to move the hook 14 when a load is hanging from the hook, but as soon as the load is relieved it is capable of swinging the hook 14 to the side, such as shown in figure 4, and thereby release the master link 7.

The automatic hook may include a sensor, such as a magnet shown at 16, that senses the immediate proximity of the master link 7 and enables actuation of the hook into en gagement with the master link 7. The actuator is remotely operated and powered by a built-in battery.

The hook 14 and swivel 15 are encapsulated by a housing 17, which completely sur rounds the hook and swivel except for an opening 18 at the bottom. The opening 18 at the bottom is adapted to receive the upper end of the master link 7. The housing 17 compris es two parts, a lower part 17a and an upper part 17b. The two parts 17a and 17b are joined along a line 19. The housing may also be divided into further parts to facilitate the mounting around the hook and swivel while it is attached to the crane line 10.

The housing 17 may be made of metal, such as steel or aluminium, but may also be made of plastics, such as polyurethane, fibre glass, composites, etc. It will be attached to the swivel by suitable means, such as screws or glue, or it may just fit narrowly around the swivel 15. The housing provides the hook assembly 3 with an outer shape that corre sponds with and fits into the guide 7.

Figure 5 shows the hook assembly lowered into the guide 2. The shape of the guide 2 acts to turn the hook assembly 3 so that the long horizontal axis of the hook assembly 3 aligns with the long horizontal axis of the guide 2. With this orientation, and with proper alignment of the master link 7, the opening 18 in the housing 17 will be aligned with the master link 7. Hence, when lowering the hook assembly 3, the upper end of the master link 7 will slide with ease into the opening in the hook assembly 3. Once inside, the hook 14 may be moved to a closed position, gripping the master link 7, as shown in figure 6.

When the hook has been closed, preferably with a confirmation signal sent from the hook assembly 3 to the crane operator, the lifting may commence.

Figure 7 shows the lifting in progress. The foot 8, which is attached to the master link 7, will be lifted from the seat 13 and follow the master link 7. The slings 6 are attached to the master link 7 in a conventional way. Hence, the lifting force will be transferred from the hook 14, via the master link 7, to the slings 6. This means that the lifting force will be ex clusively transferred through conventional and pre-certified components. The components that are made in connection with the present invention are solely for guiding and ensuring alignment of the master link 7 and the hook assembly 3. None of these components trans fer any lifting force. Hence, these components do not need to be certified, or may be certi fied at a lower grade. Moreover, the new components can be made of weaker material, such as plastics.

The guide 2 may be connected to the load 1 in a non-permanent and/or elastic manner so that the guide 2 can be moved relative to the load 1 , such as if accidentally hit by an ob ject, without transferring any significant forces to the load 1 . It may be an advantage if the guide 2 is connected to the load 1 so that the connection does not represent permanent interference in the structure of the load 1 and that the guide 2 may be biased to return to its initial, normal position after having been (accidently) moved relative to the load 1. In a preferred embodiment, the connection between the load 1 and the guide 2 may be formed with elongate elastic elements (not shown) extending from the guide 2 and to attachment points on the load 1 , such as in the at the corners at the upper surface of a container, at a distance from the guide 2.. One effect of this way of connecting the guide 2 to the load 1 is that the guide 2 may be released from the load and follow the foot 8 during the lifting as shown in figure 10. This is contrast to the embodiments shown in figures 1 -9, where the guide remains connected to the load 1 during lifting.

Figure 8 shows a buoy 20, such as a buoy used to moor a fish farming net cage. A guide 7 is connected to or integrated with the buoy 20 at the top thereof. In this case the guide 7 is a continuous funnel. It may e.g. be made of metal sheet material or plastic. A hook as sembly 3 is shown lowered into the funnel shaped guide 7. The hook assembly may be of the same design as the hook assembly shown in figures 1 - 7.

Figure 9 shows the buoy in cross-section, floating on a body of water. Here the bow is a shackle 21 that is fixed to the top of the buoy 20. In this case there is no need for a foot or a seat to hold the shackle 21 as it will always be in the same position. The shackle 21 will be an already present part of the buoy 20 and the guide 7 may be a bottomless funnel that is fixed to the buoy in a convenient way, such as by screws or glue.

The invention can also be used to lift and deploy anchors, especially anchors used to re tain fish farm net cages.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodi ments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any refer ence signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A handling device for lifting or handling of a load (1 ), comprising

a hook assembly (3) comprising a hook (14) and a housing (17) that at least partially surrounds the hook (14), and

a guide (2) comprising a wider top opening and narrower base (2a), said guide (2) being connectable to the load (1),

c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that

said guide (2) is funnel shaped with an oblong first cross-section gradu ally decreasing from the top opening to the base (2a) and arranged to receive and orient said hook assembly (3),

said hook assembly (3) being provided with an oblong second cross- section corresponding to the internal first cross-section of said guide (2), allowing the hook assembly (3) to turn about a vertical hook assembly axis while being low ered into the guide (2), to enable engagement of the hook with a bow, such as a master link (7) or shackle (21), , said bow (7) being arranged at the base (2a) of the guide (2) to be received by the hook assembly (3) when the hook assembly (3) has been oriented by the guide (7) and lowered towards the base (2a).

2. The handling device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said housing (17) has an opening (18) that is adapted to receive an upper end of the bow (7).

3. The handling device of claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said bow (7) is attached to a foot (8), which holds the bow (7) in an upright posi tion.

4. The handling device of claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the foot

(8) has an opening to receive the bow (7).

5. The handling device of claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the foot

(8) is adapted for releasable attachment to a seat (13).

6. The handling device of any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r

i s e d i n that the hook is a remotely operated or automatic hook.

7. The handling device of any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r

i s e d i n that the lifting force from the load is transferred through the bow (7), the hook (14) and a crane or winch wire (10), and that the housing, guide (7) and the foot (8) are not subject to the lifting force.

8. The handling device of claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the bow is a shackle (21) fixedly attached to the load (1).

9. The handling device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the guide (2) comprises a guide wall (9a) formed by several pins (9) extending from the base (2a) of the guide (2).

10. The handling device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the funnel shaped guide (2) comprises a guide wall (9a) formed by a plate material ex- tending from the base (2a) of the guide (2), the guide wall (9a) being provided with several slits extending from the base (2a) to the top opening of the funnel shaped guide (2).