Traversing hoists – Traveling bridge – Having vertical supporting legs
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2002-08-20
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Traversing hoists
Traveling bridge
Having vertical supporting legs
C414S140300, C414S141300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435361
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lifting device for increasing the performance of a handling apparatus for ISO containers, in particular for increasing the performance of a container bridge in a terminal having automated inward and outward transport of the containers by means of self-propelled transport vehicles, and having at least one container load-lifting means in the form of a spreader and devices for the intermediate positioning of the containers within the handling apparatus for the purpose of fitting or removing the twist locks, and platforms for the personnel occupied in doing this.
2. Description of the Related Art
German Utility Model 297 19 466 has disclosed a handling system for containers in which a container bridge formed by a portal frame is used. The portal frame is supported on a chassis which can be moved along rails parallel to the quay to which a ship is moored. The portal frame has a boom which extends outward beyond the supporting construction, both on the water side and on the land side and to which running rails for a trolley are fitted, the latter transporting containers from the ship to the quay and vice versa with the aid of a spreader. The spreader is designed in such a way that, being locked automatically to the container by means of manipulation by the crane driver, it can be brought into engagement or out of engagement with them.
The productivity-determining factor of such a handling apparatus is the time taken for one load cycle of the trolley, namely the time which is needed to convey the containers between the standing areas and the removal or fitting of the twist locks. As is known, these are used to secure the containers stacked on top of one another on the standing areas against slipping during transport, in particular during transport by ship. The containers are locked to one another by the twist locks engaging in openings in the fittings and the parts arranged inside the fittings being rotated. For the most part, semiautomatic twist locks are used which, during loading, are connected to the lower fittings of a container in a prior position. When the container is placed onto another container, the twist locks are automatically latched with the fitting of the lower container, so that these two containers are then firmly connected to each other.
During the unloading of the containers from the standing location, firstly the locks to the respective lower container or the container vehicle are cancelled by the personnel and the respective upper container, with the twist locks still located on it, is conveyed from the ship to the quay. However, before the container is set down onto the surface of the quay, the twist locks have to be removed, which is likewise done manually, by the personnel employed for this purpose reaching under the suspended container and releasing and removing the twist locks manually. Conversely, during loading, the container is firstly lifted to such an extent that the twist locks can initially be inserted into the lower fittings by hand, before the container is transported to its standing location.
A solution disclosed by the German Utility Model 297 19 466 describes the loosening and loading of the containers in two overlapping phases, two trolleys being used, of which the first trolley performs the transport of the container from the ship to a manipulation platform, and the second trolley performs the transport of the container from the platform to the desired track on the surface of the quay. There, a vehicle is ready to accept the container. The two trolleys which transport the containers and overlap in time reduce the productive working cycle time, since it has been established that less time is needed including the removal or the fitting of twist locks for transporting a container between the ship and platform than is needed for transporting the container to the set-down track on the surface of the quay.
However, the disclosed solution is disadvantageous, since although the use of the second trolley in the container bridge increases the handling performance, it entails additional, relatively high investment, servicing and maintenance costs. Furthermore, the platform used in the known solution for the fitting and removal of the twist locks is not suitable for handling tank containers or other special containers (for example refrigerated containers or containers for loading passenger cars). Although the set-down surfaces, explained in the citation, for the container permit free access to the corner fittings, in the case of this technique a closed container bottom is absolutely necessary. However, this is not always ensured in the case of special containers. This means that these containers have to be sorted out and have to be handled separately on the quay by additional personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Starting from the prior art as disclosed by the German Utility Model 297 19 466, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for increasing the performance of a handling apparatus, in particular for ISO containers, which is employed as an inexpensive supplement to the known container handling apparatuses. In addition, the solution, which is cost-effective with regard to procurement and maintenance, is to be suitable for automating the process of the fitting or removal of the twist locks.
In order to achieve the object, the invention proposes that the intermediate positioning of the containers is carried out in a lifting device which can be positioned above the transport vehicles and is suitable for all current ISO container sizes and types and comprises a shaft-like base frame with vertical guides for the container suspended on the spreader, and a lifting frame which engages around the container, is arranged such that it can be raised and lowered underneath the shaft-like base frame and, after the container has been detached from the spreader, can be lowered in the direction of the transport vehicle, together with the container, means for seizing and holding the spreader being provided at the lower end of the base frame and means for seizing and holding the container being provided on the lifting frame, and the platforms for fitting or removing the twist locks being fixed to the lifting device.
Starting from unloading a ship, the novel lifting device according to the invention performs the second part of the handling operation, instead of the second trolley. In this case the container suspended in the corner fittings on the spreader of the trolley of the container bridge is accommodated in the lifting device, specifically irrespective of the size and type of the containers. Since standardized ISO containers are concerned, the novel lifting device is able to use the upper corner fittings, which are always defined clearly in terms of shape and position, to pick up the load. The freely accessible twist locks are removed by the personnel who are located on platforms arranged laterally underneath the containers, so that the automated lifting device can set the container down onto the transport vehicles.
In one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the lifting device to be arranged in a stationary manner inside the bridge portal of a container bridge, preferably on a connecting beam of the container bridge supports. The lifting device performs part of the handling of the load and therefore reduces the load cycle. The trolley of the container bridge now only ensures the transport of the container between the ship and lifting device, which is firmly connected to the connecting beam of the container bridge supports, to be specific in a position in which the track of the transport vehicle (AGV) runs.
It is more beneficial if, in another refinement of the invention, the lifting device is arranged such that it can be moved inside the bridge portal of a container bridge, preferably on the connecting beam of the container bridge supports. In this case, the connecting beam is the support of the rail running track of a bridge crane, on which the lifting de
Franzen Hermann
Kröll Joachim
Moutsokapas Janis
Atecs Mannesmann AG
Bratlie Steven A.
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
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