WO2022184972A1

WO2022184972A1 - Method for transporting roller provided with bar and transport platform

Info

Publication number: WO2022184972A1
Application number: PCT/FI2022/050114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jari Poutanen
Original assignee: Patria Land Oy
Priority date: 2021-03-01
Filing date: 2022-02-22
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: FI20215220A1; FI130338B

Abstract

In the presented solution, a transport platform includes a frame (2) and at least one turntable (8) arranged into connection with the frame (2). The turntable (8) has an upper part (9), on the top which is arrangeable a roller (11) provided with a bar (13), and a lower part (10), which is non-movably arranged into connection with the frame (2). The upper part (9) of the turntable is bearing-mounted in relation to its lower part (10) such that the upper part (9) of the turntable is turn able from its loading position into its transport position and back. The transport platform (1) can be used such that the roller (11) provided with the bar (13) is transferred from be side the transport platform (1) onto the transport platform (I) on top of the turnable (8) being turnable of its upper part, which upper part (9) of the turntable is then in the loading position. The upper part (9) of the turntable and the roller (II) on top of it are turned from the loading position to the transport position and the roller (11) is transported on the transport platform (1) in the transport position.

Description

Method for transporting roller provided with bar and transport platform

Background of the invention

The invention relates to the transport of a heavy piece or heavy pieces and particularly to the transport of a roller provided with a bar.

Especially for longer transport hauls, heavy pieces are typically trans ported by means of transport vehicles. Typically, heavy pieces are lifted by e.g. a crane onto the bed of a transport vehicle for transport and then lifted out of the bed after the transport. Fitting a heavy piece in a transport vehicle is awkward and cumbersome.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is thus to develop a novel type of method for transporting a roller provided with a bar and a transport platform. The solution according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

In the presented solution, the transport platform includes a frame and at least one turntable arranged into connection with the frame. The turntable has an upper part, on the top which is arrangeable a roller provided with a bar, and a lower part, which is non-movably arranged into connection with the frame. The upper part of the turntable is bearing-mounted in relation to its lower part such that the upper part of the turntable is turnable from its loading position into its transport position and back. The transport platform can be used such that the roller provided with the bar is transferred from beside the transport platform onto the transport platform on top of the turntable being turnable from its upper part, which upper part of the turntable is then in the loading position. The upper part of the turntable and the roller on top of it are turned from the loading position to the transport position and the roller is transported on the transport platform in the transport position. Hence, the roller can be transferred onto the transport platform in the most optimal manner and, on the other hand, the roller provided with the bar can be fitted in the best manner in accordance with the outer dimensions of the transport platform during the transport.

Here, the term 'a roller provided with a bar’ refers to a solution which comprises a structure including a part which rolls along the ground when the roller is used, which part can be of the shape of e.g. a cylinder or a roll or can consist of several adjacent discs. Furthermore, the roller contains a bar by means of which the part rolling along the ground can be pushed or towed and from which the roller can be fastened to a work machine, such as a tank, a tractor or some other work machine, moving it. The bar can then be either a push bar or a tow bar. The struc ture to be transported by means of the presented solution can be e.g. a soil com- pactor, an asphalt compactor or a mine roller or some other equivalent structure. Mine rollers can comprise at least two mine roller units which mine roller units comprise a part rolling along the ground and a bar from which the part rolling along the ground can be fastened to a tank, whereby the mine roller unit can be referred to as a roller provided with a bar in this connection. The roller provided with the bar can be quite heavy, that is, its total mass can be e.g. more than 1,000 kg. The mass of the part rolling along the ground as such can already be more than 1,000 kg, but the bar can also be quite heavy, i.e., the bar can weigh several hundred kil ograms or 1,000 kg or even more.

According to an embodiment, the transport platform includes a crane, whereby, when turning the upper part of the turntable and the roller on top of it, the bar of the roller can be lifted by the crane. The bar is lifted by lifting its free end, i.e., the end which is not fast in the part rolling along the ground. When the bar is lifted during turning by the crane, the turning of the roller on top of the turntable is quite simple to implement without several devices and several people perform- ing the turn. Preferably, the crane can be arranged to move along the upper part of the turntable. Then, the common structure and operation of the turntable and the crane during the turning is achieved simple and working.

The crane can be a boom crane, for instance. When the roller has been transferred in its place on top of the turntable, the bar can be fastened e.g. by means of lifting hooks to the crane supported by which the bar is when the roller is being turned. After the turning, the free end of the bar can be lowered by the crane e.g. to a transport locking device or, in an unloading situation, to be connected to a work machine. The height of the crane column can be e.g. 1,000-2,000 mm and the length of the boom e.g. 1,000-2,000 mm. The lifting height range of the crane can be so small that the operating cylinder of the crane can be, for example, a manually op erated hydraulic cylinder.

According to an embodiment, at least one turntable of the transport platform is arranged such that its middle point is at a distance from a longitudinal centre line of the frame of the transport platform. Then, the roller provided with the bar can be fitted into the transport position such that the weight will be distributed on the transport platform as evenly as possible, even though e.g. the bar is not fitted parallel with the longitudinal centre line of the frame.

According to an embodiment, the transport platform is equipped to en able the transfer of the roller provided with the bar onto the transport platform and out of it by using a work machine or a device which moves the roller when it is used. The equipment in question can comprise a run track between the edge of the transport platform and the turntable, along which run track the part of the roller rolling along the ground is movable. The edge of the run track can include a guide which is arranged to guide the roller provided with the bar when it is transferred to and from the turntable. The equipment can further comprise a ramp from the ground level to the run track. This enables the transfer of the roller onto the transport platform to be simple and reasonably easy. For example, the roller can pushed into its place on top of the turntable. Hence, there is no need for a crane intended for lifting heavy pieces to load the roller onto the transport vehicle and out of it.

According to an embodiment, the transport platform includes at least two turntables. Then, it is easily possible to transport at least two separate rollers on the transport platform. In an embodiment of two turntables, an angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part of the first turn- table is different from an angle between the loading position and the transport po sition of the upper part of the second turntable. In this way, the turntables can be turned for different magnitudes when transferring from loading to transport. In this case, it is also possible to fit different rollers onto the transport platform in their transport positions as evenly as possible and also fitting all transported parts as well as possible in accordance with the outer dimensions of the transport plat form. For example, mine rollers can comprise two mine roller units having mirror symmetrical bars in the longitudinal direction, whereby the space required by them turned at an angle is different from each other and optimising the use of space requires different turning angles. According to an embodiment, the frame of the transport platform in cludes a demountable-platform frame. Here, it is possible to fit the roller on top of the transport platform being e.g. on the ground and, then, to transfer the transport platform into connection with a transport vehicle for transport. Hence, the transfer of the roller on top of the transport platform is easy and simple. The transport plat- form comprising the demountable-platform frame with its load is easily transfer- rable to the transport vehicle. Furthermore, the roller can be easily removed from the transport vehicle by removing the transport platform comprising the demount- able-platform frame, on which the roller lies, and the transport vehicle is available for other tasks.

According to an embodiment, the transport platform includes a transport locking device to lock the bar of the roller provided with the bar in place during transport. Thus, the roller can be simply and effectively fastened in place in order to ensure safe transport.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with some embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagonal top view of a transport platform;

Fig. 2 shows the transport platform according to Fig. 1 when a mine roller is placed on top of its turntables;

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the situation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a situation corresponding Figs. 2 and 3 where a tank has pushed the mine roller units in their places;

Fig. 5 shows the transport platform according to Fig. 1 its turntables turned into a transport position;

Fig. 6 shows the situation according to Fig. 5 when the mine roller is on top of the turntables; and

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the situation of Fig. 6.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 1 shows a transport platform 1. The transport platform 1 can also be referred to as a transport palette. In the embodi ment of Fig. 1, a frame 2 of the transport platform 1 comprises a demountable-plat- form frame. Hence, the frame 2 comprises beams 3 of the demountable-platform frame, a framework 4 and, at the front end of the frame 2, a hooked platform end 5 which is provided with a lifting hook 6 of the platform. For its frame 2, the transport platform 1 can be in accordance with standards, such as NATO - STANAG 2413 and ISO 668. The frame 2 can be made of steel, for instance.

The lower corners of the frame 2 include container locks 7. For this part, the solution can be in accordance with standard ISO 1161. By means of the con tainer locks 7, the transport platform 1 can be fastened e.g. to a transport carriage of a transport vehicle, to a railway wagon or to a ship or to some other equivalent device transporting the transport platform.

In the upper corners of the frame 2, it is possible to fit e.g. by welding lifting lugs from which the transport platform is liftable as four-point lifting. On the other hand, the container locks 7 and their openings can be utilised instead of the lifting lugs when implementing the four-point lifting. The four-point lifting can be realised in accordance with standard ISO 3874.

When the structure of the transport platform 1 is formed to meet the requirements of container transport standards, the transport of the transport plat- form 1 is straightforward and effective utilising conventional transport solutions.

In connection with the frame 2 of the transport platform 1 are arranged turntables 8. The turntable 8 contains an upper part 9 and a lower part 10. The lower part 10 of the turntable is arranged non-movable in relation to the frame 2. The lower part 10 of the turntable can be fastened to the frame 2 e.g. by welding, riveting or bolt or nut fastening or some other suitable way.

There are bearings between the upper part 9 and the lower part 10 of the turntable such that the upper part 9 is turnable in relation to the lower part 10. The upper part 9 of the turntable can be turned e.g. from the loading position to the transport position and back. In connection with the turntable 8, there can be lock- ing members for locking the upper part 9 of the turntable to the loading position and equivalentely to the transport position. The locking members can be e.g. me chanical locking members, such as a pin and a hole. The locking members can com prise shape and/or friction locking and the locking members can be used e.g. man ually or hydraulically. Furthermore, the locking members can include a spring- loaded structure, such as a spring-loaded tooth against a toothed rim.

On top of the upper part 9 of the turntable, a roller 11 provided with a bar can be fitted e.g. in a manner illustrated in Fig. 2. Particularly, the roller 11 can be placed on top of the upper part 9 of the turntable such that the roller part 12 rolling along the ground is set on top of the upper part 9 of the turntable as the bar 13 of the roller extends outside the turntable.

The upper part 9 of the turntable can comprise a plate having a groove in which the roller part 12 rolling along the ground sets. It is not necessary for the upper part 9 of the turntable to include a plate, but the groove in question can be formed by beams set at a suitable distance from each other. In connection with the upper part 9 of the turntable, there can be a push bar, by means of which, the upper part 9 of the turntable and the roller 11 possibly being on top of it can be turned e.g. manually. In connection with the upper part 9 of the turntable, there can be a socket into which the push bar is fitted, whereby the push bar can be separate from the upper part 9 of the turntable.

A crane 14 is arranged in connection with the upper part 9 of the turn- table. Extensions of the frame beams of the upper part 9 of the turntable form a crane base 15. The location of the crane base 15 is arranged such that a crane col umn 16 is located outside the run track of the roller part 12 rolling along the ground and the length of a crane boom 17 is as small as possible.

The end of the crane boom 17 and a lift hook 18 of the crane in it set above lifting points 19 of the bar 13. Between the crane lifting hook 18 and the lifting points 19 is arranged, according to a preferable embodiment, a lifting chain 20 which is Y-forked and provided with lifting hooks.

For the time of turning the upper part 9 of the turntable and the roller 11 on top of it, the bar 13 is lifted using an actuating cylinder 21 of the crane to be supported by the crane 14. When turning the upper part 9 of the turntable, the crane 14 turns along the upper part 9 of the turntable around the middle point of the turntable 8.

The long side of the transport platform 1 contains ramps 22. The ramp 22 facilitates the transfer of the roller 11 onto the transport platform 1 and out of it. The roller 11 can be e.g. pushed onto the transport platform 1 such that the roller part 12 rolling along the ground rolls along the ramp. The ramp 22 can be hinged in connection with the side of the frame 2 such as illustrated e.g. in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. If desired, the ramp 22 can also be separate or easily detachable from the frame 2. The ramp 22 is not necessarily required at all e.g. when removing the roller from the transport platform 1 or otherwise e.g. when the transport platform 1 is low in relation to a diameter of the part 12 of the roller 11 rolling along the ground.

Between the ramp 22 and the turntable 8, there is a run track 23 along which the part 12 of the roller 11 rolling along the ground is rolled when transfer ring the roller 11 onto the turntable 8 and out of it. The structure of the run track 23 can be identical with the structure of the ramp 22. The run track 23 and the ramp 22 can be manufactured of e.g. steel plate or their structure can be a wooden structure reinforced with rectangular steel pipes or some other structure suitable for the purpose.

The side of the run track 23 contains a guide 24. The guide 24 facilitates the alignment of the roller 11 to the turntable 8 in a loading situation and to the ramp 22 in an unloading situation. The guide 24 includes a section 24a parallel with the side of the run track 23 and an oblique section 24b at least at its one end, pref erably both ends. The guide 24 is fastened to the frame 2. In the figures, the guide 24 is only fitted on one side of the run track 23 but the guide 24 can be fitted on both sides of the run track 23, if desired. The transport platform 1 includes a transport locking device 25 for both of the turntables 8. When the upper part 9 of the turntable and the roller 11 on top of it have been turned to the transport position, the bar 13 is lowered by the crane 14 such that the end of the bar is locked to the transport locking device 25 from locking pins 26. It is possible to e.g. weld fastening lugs to the transport platform 1 e.g. in order to fasten load-binding straps. In addition to or instead of welded fastening lugs, it is possible to form to the transport platform 1 e.g. bush holes provided with a thread to a steel-plate cover in which holes e.g. fasteners can be threaded.

If desired, it is possible to form on top of the transport platform 1 step planes which enable safe working and movement on top of the transport platform. The step planes can be fastened to the frame 2 and their structure can be formed e.g. from chequer plate and/or grating. Furthermore if desired, tunnels for the forks of a fork-lift truck can be arranged under the frame 2.

Under structures being in connection with thew frame 2, such as the turntable 8, the run track 23, the guide 24 and/or the transport locking device 25, it is possible to arrange beams to support the structures in question. The frame 2 can further include e.g. diagonal additional support beams to reinforce the frame work 4.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the structure being trans- ported is mine rollers. The mine rollers consist of two mine roller units. In the mine roller unit, the roller part 12 rolling along the ground consists of four roller discs. The bar 13 is a push bar. The bar 13 is positioned asymmetrically in relation to the part 12 rolling along the ground. For the part of the bar 13, the structures of the mine roller units are mirror images in relation to each other. In the situation shown in Figure 4, a tank has pushed the mine roller units to their places. Figure 4 also describes a situation in which the mine roller units being transported on the transport platform 1 are connected to the tank and the tank is ready to pull the mine roller units out of the transport platform. When transferring the roller to and from the transport platform, the roller is moved by the tank in the cross direction of the transport platform. Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal centre line of the frame 2 of the transport platform by a dot-and-dash line A. The turntables 8 are arranged such that their middle point is at a distance from the longitudinal centre line A of the frame of the transport platform. Furthermore, the middle point of both is on the same side of the centre line A in question.

In Figure 7, dot-and-dash lines B illustrate a normal of an axis of the part 12 of the roller 11 rolling along the ground in the loading position. When transfer ring the roller onto the transport platform in the loading position, the roller is moved in the cross direction of the transport platform. Equivalently, dot-and-dash lines C illustrate a normal of the axis of the part 12 rolling along the ground in the transport position. This shows that the magnitude of an angle a between the load ing position and the transport position of the upper part 9 of the first turntable is different from the one of an angle b between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part of the second turntable. An angle a between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part 9 of the foremost turntable, that is, the one closer to the hooked platform end 5 is about 30°. An angle b between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part 9 of the rearmost turntable is about 80°.

The dot-and-dash lines B and C also illustrate the direction of the upper parts 9 of the turntables. The direction of the upper part 9 of the turntable is hence the cross direction in relation to the groove in which the roller part 12 rolling along the ground sets. In the loading position, the direction B of the upper part 9 of the turntable can be substantially transverse in relation to the longitudinal centre line A of the frame 2 of the transport platform. In this context, substantially transverse can refer to the direction B of the upper part 9 of the turntable being divergent from the cross direction of the centre line A by a maximum of 10°.

According to an embodiment, with a transport platform 2, which in cludes at least two turntables 8, it is possible to drive at least two rollers onto the transport platform 1 perpendicularly from its one long side. Then in the loading position, the loading direction of the upper part 9 of at least two turntables can be substantially the same, that is, the loading direction of the upper part 9 of two turn tables diverges from each other e.g. less than 10°. As the upper parts 9 of the turn tables are then turned to the transport position C, the upper parts 9 of the turnta bles are turned in the same direction. However, the upper parts 9 of the turntables are turned for different magnitudes. According to an embodiment, the upper part embodiment, the upper part 9 of at least one of the turntables is turned for at least 10° more than the upper part 9 of the second turntable. Then, the angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part 9 of the first turn table differs for at least 10° from the angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part 9 of the second turntable.

In the presented solution, all parts of the roller can be fitted within the area defined by the outer dimensions of the transport platform 1 when viewing from the top. This is despite the fact that the roller is large in size and difficult to position on the transport platform due to its asymmetrical structure. The roller 11 can be driven onto the transport platform 1 perpendicu larly from its one long side. The roller is driven on top of the upper part 9 of the turntable 8. The bar 13 of the roller 11 is hung supported by the crane 14. The bar 13 is detached from the device, i.e. e.g. a tank, having pushed it, whereby the bar remains supported by the crane. In this stage, e.g. supporting cables of the roller can be detached from the tank and the tank can be driven away from the transport platform 1. So far, the upper part 9 of the turntable has been locked in the loading position. Now, the locking member of the upper part of the turntable is detached and the upper part 9 of the turntable and the roller 11 on top of it are turned e.g. manually by means of the push bar at the same time as the crane 14 lifts the free end of the bar 13. After this, the end of the bar 13 is lowered down and locked in the transport locking device 25. The upper part 9 of the turntable is locked by the locking member into the transport position. It is ensured that the transportable devices and parts remain in place e.g. by binding straps and/or in other ways. Then, the transport platform 1 and the roller on top of it can be transferred into connec- tion with a transport vehicle for transport.

After transport, the transport platform 1 and the roller on top of it can be lowered to the ground. The unloading of the roller 11 from the top of the transport platform 1 and its connecting into connection with the device operating it takes place is a reverse order to the one described above. Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a roller provided with a bar, the method comprising transferring at least two rollers from beside a transport platform onto the transport platform on top of a first and a second turntable being turnable from their upper part, the upper part of each turntable then being in a loading position, turning the upper part of each turntable and the roller on top of it from the loading position to a transport position, whereby the upper part of the first and the second turntable is turned for different magnitudes when turning the upper part of each turntable from the loading positions to the transport positions and transporting each roller on the transport platform in the transport position.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which, when turning the upper part of each turntable and the roller on top of it, lifting a free end of the bar of each roller by a crane.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, in which, transferring the roller onto the transport platform and out of it by using a work machine, by which the roller is moved when using it.

4. A method according to any one of previous claims, in which the frame of the transport platform comprises a demountable-platform frame, and fitting the roller on top of the transport platform and, after this, transferring the transport platform into connection with a transport vehicle for transport.

5. A transport platform including a frame and at least two turntables arranged into connection with the frame, each turntable having an upper part, on the top which is arrangeable a roller provided with a bar, and a lower part, which is non-movably arranged into connection with the frame, which upper part of each turntable has a loading position and a transport position and the upper part of each turntable is bearing-mounted in relation to its lower part such that the upper part of the turntable is turnable from its loading position into its transport position and back, whereby the magnitude of an angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part of the first turntable is different from the one of an angle between the loading position and the transport position of the up- per part of the second turntable.

6. A transport platform according to claim 5, which includes at least two cranes, of which each is arrangeable to lift the bar of the roller provided with the bar when the roller is on top of the upper part of the corresponding turntable and when turning the upper part of the corresponding turntable.

7. A transport platform according to claim 6, in which each crane is ar ranged to move along the upper part of the corresponding turntable.

8. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-7, in which at least one turntable is arranged such that its middle point is at a distance from a longitudinal centre line of the frame of the transport platform.

9. A transport platform according to claim 8, which includes two turn tables, both of which are arranged such that the middle points of both are at a dis tance from the longitudinal centre line of the frame of the transport platform and on the same side of the centre line in question.

10. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-9, which transport platform is provided with equipments to enable the transfer of the roller provided with the bar onto the transport platform and out of it by using a work machine which moves the roller when it is used.

11. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-10, in which the transport platform includes a guide which is arranged to guide the roller pro- vided with the bar when it is transferred to and from the turntable.

12. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-11, in which the transport platform includes a transport locking device to lock the bar of the roller provided with the bar in place during transport.

13. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-12, in which the frame of the transport platform comprises a demountable-platform frame.

14. A transport platform according to any one of claims 5-13, in which the magnitude of an angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part of the first turntable is different for at least 10° from the one of an angle between the loading position and the transport position of the upper part of the second turntable.