Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Spacing hoist bar or frame – Load supporting units
Patent
1985-03-22
1987-03-10
Marbert, James B.
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Spacing hoist bar or frame
Load supporting units
B66C 166
Patent
active
046486453
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a spreader which is useful for hoisting a container, for example with a crane or hoist.
Containers which are made according to International Standard Organisation specifications have four lifting blocks of hollow construction, one at each corner, each lifting block having a rectangular opening in which a key end of a twist lock may be inserted, the twist lock having a rectangular section key on the end of a spindle which, upon insertion and rotation, engages the walls of the opening and allows a lifting force to be applied for lifting the container.
When a container is to be lifted. a spreader frame is used having respective twist locks at each of four corners, and the spreader frame is lifted by the hook of a crane which engages a central lifting location, thereby lifting the container without applying side forces to the twist locks.
The spreaders which are presently used are occasionally unreliable, in that a spreader can still accept the weight of a container even though all twist locks are not properly located within the receiving blocks, and the main object of this invention is to provide a spreader and twist lock assembly wherein the danger of malfunction is reduced. A second object is to provide means which will reduce the amount of labour requirement.
In this invention a spreader for transmitting a lifting force to twist lock blocks located at respective corners of a container when engaged by respective twist locks carried by the frame of the spreader, comprises a lifting member, lifting cables extending from the lifting member to the spreader frame, an indexing head on the spreader frame, spring means between the indexing head and the lifting member, coupling means coupling the indexing head to respective said twist locks arranged to rotate the twist locks simultaneously upon said lifting force being applied, and inhibit means operable between each respective said twist lock and the frame arranged such that if any one of the twist locks does not rotate to a locking position upon said lifting force being applied, the inhibit means inhibits movement of the coupling means which in turn disables the indexing head from rotation and thereby all other twist locks are prevented from rotation.
With this arrangement, every twist lock is in the same position of locking, and partial engagement of one only of the twist locks in its receiving aperture in its respective block is avoided.
While the invention provides a safe and more secure lifting device than has previously been available, it is nevertheless desirable that an operator should have visual means of ensuring that there has been no malfunction and in one embodimnt of this invention, each twist lock is associated with a visible pointer which indicates movement from an unlocked position to a locked position when the twist locks are rotated into their locked position, and vice versa.
An embodiment of the invention is described hereunder in some detail with reference to, and is illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spreader,
FIG. 2 is a plan view,
FIG. 3 is a side elevation,
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation showing a twist-lock and its key means, and
FIG. 5 is an "exploded" perspective view of the indexing head.
In this embodiment, a spreader 10 comprises a frame 11 provided with a longitudinal frame member 12 and two transverse frame members 13 one at each end, and diagonal stiffeners 14 between the central portion of the longitudinal member and the ends of the transverse frame members.
Each end of each transverse frame member is provided with bearing means supporting a twist lock spindle 16, and a twist lock key 17 is located on the lower end of the spindle 16.
The central portion of the longitudinal frame member has an upstanding tube 19 containing a first tensioning spring 20 which is coupled to a hoisting loop 21 by means of a spring tensioning cable 22. The lower end of the tensioning spring has a flexible cable 23 coupled to it and this passes over pulley 24 and around
REFERENCES:
patent: 3712661 (1973-01-01), Strand
patent: 3888536 (1975-06-01), Durenec
patent: 4258949 (1981-03-01), Keagbine
patent: 4521044 (1985-06-01), Appleman
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