Traversing hoists – Traveling bridge – Having load engager mounted for guided vertical movement...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-20
2002-08-13
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Traversing hoists
Traveling bridge
Having load engager mounted for guided vertical movement...
C212S327000, C294S081200, C294S081500, C294S081510
Reexamination Certificate
active
06431379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for automated handling of loads fastened to load suspension means of a handling appliance. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for automated handling of ISO containers, by means of a spreader.
2. Description of the Related Art
German reference 1 556 324 discloses a generic type of spreader for handling containers. The aim of the known design is to provide an apparatus for picking up the containers that engages the corresponding locking parts of the container even if the container is on uneven ground or is somehow twisted or distorted. To this end, various measures are proposed, including connecting the spreader to the lifting yoke by pendulum support. The pendulum supports are designed so as to be axially displaceable relative to the lifting yoke. German reference 1556 324 also teaches a flexible connection to ensure that the spreader can be better adapted to the container.
Automated container terminals are known using various load suspension means. The design of these is dependent upon special conditions existing in each case at these terminals and cannot be transferred to other terminals. The spreaders, likewise equipped with lifting yokes, have the disadvantage of either a high dead weight or a large overall height. In normal container terminals having stacking heights of three or four meters, every additional meter in height of a crane runway support involves progressively rising costs for the terminal. In addition, the known lifting yokes also entail considerable design and manufacturing costs, which it is desirable to reduce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for use in handling appliances, i.e., for picking up and setting down ISO containers so that it is possible to automate handling of the load. This is required for automatic use of, for example, a container stacking crane.
The present invention uses a generic type of lifting yoke on the spreader and ensures safe and automatic use of the spreader, while being designed in a simple, functionally reliable and cost saving manner.
To achieve the object, the generic type apparatus is improved because the lifting mechanism is part of a rigid load guide. A cylinder part is linked between the lifting mechanism and the lifting yoke both as a torque support and for displacement and pivoting of the lifting yoke relative to the load guide. Sensors are provided in the cylinder pair so that the relative orientation of the lifting yoke with respect to the spreader and/or to the load guide can be detected in each position.
The apparatus of the present invention uses a handling appliance having a rigid load guide which can absorb horizontal forces that occur during handling of the load. Rigid load guides include, for example, rope zones of a crane trolley, quadruple frame guides of straddle carriers or vertical guides of a beam in a container stacking crane. Cylinder pairs are arranged between the load guide and the lifting yoke permitting a length and angular adjustment of the lifting yoke relative to the load guide and also permitting a horizontal movement and a tilting movement of the lifting yoke in the transverse and longitudinal directions. All the movements of the lifting yoke are detected and indicated or processed by a sensor system.
Preferably, the cylinder pair is arranged so that the two piston/cylinder units describe the sides of an isosceles triangle, at least when the pair is in the retracted state. Both cylinders are linked to the lifting yoke in the region of the tip of the isosceles triangle. The opposite ends of the piston/cylinder units are fastened in an articulated manner in a common horizontal plane on both sides of the load guide. In this way, the cylinder pairs can also act as a torque support, the fixed points of which consist of two spherical plain bearings on the load guide and one pivoting bearing pair on the lifting yoke. The cylinder pairs are preferably actuated via a central hydraulic system, to allow for correction of the rotary and longitudinal axis for fine positioning of the spreader for the container or containers relative to the aiming point, (i.e., truck loading frame). Fine positioning of the lifting yoke in the transverse direction is preferably effected with the crane trolley travel of the handling appliance.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder pair consists of double acting individual cylinders which are firmly connected to one another at their base flanges. This permits favorable control of the individual cylinders.
In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the load guide is formed by the vertically guided guide column of a corresponding handling appliance. The lifting yoke is supported in its transverse direction on the guide column by means of a guide running in the longitudinal direction of the yoke. As a result, the lifting yoke is fixed relative to the guide column in the transverse direction, i.e., in the travel direction of the trolley, whereas a displacement is possible in the longitudinal direction.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the guide is preferably designed as a guide rail for a running roller, which is arranged at the front end of the guide roller, is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and is assigned to lateral supporting rollers which can roll on the flanks of the guide rail. The running surfaces of the running roller and d of the supporting rollers are of crowned design. Thus, the running rail running in the center of the lifting yoke and the supporting roller unit, together with the horizontally acting running roller and the two smaller, symmetrically arranged guide rollers, form the bearing point of the guide column. The crowned design of the running surfaces serves to permit rotation of the lifting yoke relative to the guide column. A displacement of the lifting yoke relative to the guide column by about ±500 mm is possible in the longitudinal direction of the lifting yoke, i.e., in the travel direction of the bridge. The apparatus according to the present invention permits pivoting of about ±5° about the rotary axis of the guide column, i.e., about its longitudinal axis.
The cylinder pairs are fastened on both sides of the guide column and enable the apparatus according to the present invention to be put into a defined zero position after the spreader has been lifted.
The spreader may be connected to the lifting yoke, for example, via four pendulum supports. According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, piston/cylinder units are arranged essentially horizontally while being oriented transversely between the lifting yoke and spreader. The cylinder spaces of the piston/cylinder units can be operated so as to be unpressurized when the spreader is being set down on the container. As such, the piston/cylinder units can act as fixing and damper elements. One end of the respective cylinder pairs is connected to the lifting yoke by spherical plain bearings, whereas the other end is mounted on the spreader. In a preferred embodiment, three cylinder pairs are used with two being arranged in the travel direction of the trolley near the suspension points of the pendulum supports. The other cylinder pair is located in the travel direction of the bridge centrally in the direction of the spreader longitudinal axis.
Depending on the wind force acting on the load, the movement can be damped by specific hydraulic pressure in the cylinder pairs. The relative movement between the lifting yoke and the spreader as a reaction to placement of the spreader on the container or containers on the aiming point is made possible by free operation of the cylinder pairs. The horizontal adjusting travel of the spreader axes in the longitudinal and transverse directions is ±200 mm for each axis; this is ensured by the mechanical end positions of the piston and piston rods of the respective cylinder pai
Breitfeld Jürgen
Franzen Hermann
Kröll Joachim
Moutsokapas Jannis
Atecs Mannesmann AG
Bratlie Steven A.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
LandOfFree
Apparatus for the automated handling of loads does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for the automated handling of loads, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for the automated handling of loads will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2959658