This is a U.S. National Phase patent application of PCT/SE2011/050026, filed Jan. 12, 2011, which claims priority to the Swedish Patent Application No. 1050028-8, filed Jan. 14, 2010, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in the present disclosure in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a cable-controlled container yoke intended for guidance toward, locking to and lifting of at least one container. The invention especially relates to a container yoke having two telescopically displaceable travelling beams, so that containers of different lengths can be lifted with one and the same container yoke and in which the travelling beams, arranged in the frame of the yoke, are displaced to the correct position with the aid of cables/wires.
A large part of all the freight which is transported in the world is currently transported with the aid of containers. Loading and unloading of containers is often realized with the aid of trucks, cranes, etc. and with specially adapted lifting devices, so-called container yokes. It is important that these container yokes can be quickly adjusted to different container sizes, so that the handling of the containers is time-effective. This adjustment is normally realized with the aid of hydraulic or chain-driven systems.
A drawback with hydraulic systems is that they sooner or later begin to leak hydraulic oil, which contaminates both containers and terminals. This leads to the terminal companies in many countries being forced to pay substantial fines for oil running down in the runoff water. Hydraulic systems are also based on the continuous running of hydraulic pumps, which means higher energy consumption and that the noise level is disturbing in the terminal and for its surroundings.
Chain-driven systems have the drawback that they regularly have to be lubricated and adjusted/tensioned and that they also generate a great deal of mechanical hubbub. Moreover, a chain is less flexible and less stretchable and totally rigid in the lateral direction, which means that the truing of the chain system in the lateral direction is very sensitive and calls for narrow tolerances. This is a problem in an environment in which the container yokes are subjected to large, and, not infrequently, sudden mechanical stresses in the form of shocks and bangs.
Container yokes according to the prior art are relatively expensive to produce and to use and adversely affect the environment and, moreover, are relatively sensitive to mechanical stresses. For these reasons, it is desirable to, as far as possible, diverge from this prior art and replace it with better solutions which are quieter, cleaner, cheaper, more energy efficient and more resistant to mechanical stresses. The prior art within the field does not satisfactorily solve these problems.
One object of the invention is to solve the above-stated problems and to provide a container yoke, of the type stated in the introduction, which in a faster, simpler and cheaper manner, and without risk of oil spillage, can adjust the position of the travelling beams in the yoke, so that the container yoke can be quickly and easily adapted to a certain container size, regardless of the particular size/length of the container.
A further object of the invention is that the adjustment of the positions of the travelling beams in the frame shall be realized with the aid of cables/wires.
Another object of the invention is that the feed-in and feed-out of the cables is preferably realized with the aid of an electric motor, and preferably with the aid of a mechanical gear.
Yet another object of the invention is that each travelling beam is governed by an own individual cable and that this cable is unreeled from and reeled onto an own individual cable drum.
A further object of the invention is that all cable drums of the yoke rotate synchronously via a common axle.
Another object of the invention is that the cables, as far as possible, lie protected inside within the frame of the container yoke.
A further object of the invention is that the fastening of the cables in the travelling beams is flexible and spring-loaded, so that any slack in the wire system is effectively taken up.
The aforementioned and other objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by a device according to the distinguishing features defined in the characterizing part of Patent claim 1.
The invention thus relates to a cable-controlled container yoke comprising a steel base frame and two individually telescopically extensible travelling beams placed therein. The movements of the travelling beams are directed oppositely to one another and these can be easily extended by the user/driver into the desired position by the use of a purpose-fitted actuator, so that the yoke can grip containers of different length, usually having one of the lengths 20, 30, 40 or 45 foot. If a 20 foot long container is to be lifted, both travelling beams are retracted fully into their inner end position, and if a 45 foot container is to be lifted, both travelling beams are maximally extended into their outermost end position. When containers measuring between 20 and 45 foot are lifted, the travelling beams are extended a predefined distance out of the frame. At each predefined position detectors are arranged, which detectors detect the travelling beam. The driver thus aligns the container yoke, the travelling beams and the locking members, so-called twist locks, arranged on the outer transverse beams of the container yoke, into engagement with the corner boxes of the container, for example with the aid of mechanical search arms arranged on or close to the four outer corners of the yoke. The locking members of the yoke are subsequently lowered into cutouts in the corner boxes of the container, after which the locking mechanism is turned a quarter turn and thus locks the yoke to the container, whereafter the container can be lifted. The electrical energy and the control signals which need to be supplied to the yoke and its actuators and detectors are preferably transmitted to the container yoke via electric cables.
The displacement of the travelling beams within the frame is effected by a cable system essentially consisting of two cables for each travelling beam. One cable is used for extension of the travelling beam and the other cable for retraction of the travelling beam.
The present invention is cheaper to produce, more energy efficient to use and is quieter during operation. Moreover, the invention is more environmentally friendly and cannot leak hydraulic oil and, furthermore, is easier to regulate and maintain.
Further distinguishing features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following, more detailed, description of the invention and from the appended drawings and the remaining patent claims.
The invention is described in greater detail below in a small number of preferred illustrative embodiments, on the basis of the appended drawings.
a shows from the side a section through a cable tensioner according to the invention in the compressed state.
b shows from the side a section through a cable tensioner according to the invention in the expanded state.
The invention relates to a cable-controlled container yoke 1 consisting of a base frame 2 and two individually and telescopically extensible travelling beams 3a,b placed therein. The movements of the travelling beams 3a,b are directed oppositely to one another and these can be extended into the desired position by the use of a purpose-fitted actuator 4, so that the container yoke 1 can grip containers 5 of different length.
In the case of a chain drive, corresponding problems do not arise, since the chain per se is sufficiently rigid in both directions for stretching or slack to be able to arise. However, a chain drive gives rise to other drawbacks, as stated above.
a shows from the side a section through a cable tensioner 15 according to the invention in the compressed and active state. The cable tensioner 15 substantially consists of a tubular housing 21, in which a preloaded spring 22 is arranged. The housing 21 rests against the bracket 20. Arranged coaxially with the housing 21, and the spring 22, is a rod 23, which is displaceable in its longitudinal axis and at one, first end of which is arranged a cable fastening 24 and at the other end of which is arranged a support washer 25 which rests against the outer end portion of the spring 22. The support washer 25 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the rod 23 with the aid of a nut 26 and a threaded part 27 of the rod 23, so that the cable of the container yoke 1 can be tensioned in the desired manner. That position of the line tensioner 15 which is shown in the figure is its rigid starting position, i.e. when the connected cable is tensioned/stretched. The support washer 25 thus bears against the housing 21. When the cable is subjected to a tensile force, for example for displacement of the travelling beam, this cable is stretched somewhat, whereupon the other, non-loaded cable slackens somewhat. The cable tensioner for the slackening cable thus expands with the aid of the preloaded spring 22 and compensates for the slack, so that the cable does not slip out of any deflection pulley. At the first end of the rod 23 is arranged a control element 28, whose function is to prevent the rod 23 of the cable tensioner 15 from rotating during operation.
b shows the cable tensioner 15 in the expanded state, in which a slack in the cable has been taken up, compensated for, by the cable tensioner 15, by virtue of the spring 22 having displaced the support washer 25 to the left in the figure by a distance 29 corresponding to the slack in the cable.
The description above is primarily intended to facilitate understanding of the invention. The invention is therefore, of course, not limited to the specified embodiments, but rather other variants of the invention are also possible and conceivable within the scope of the inventive concept and within the scope of protection of the following patent claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1050028 | Jan 2010 | SE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/SE2011/050026 | 1/12/2011 | WO | 00 | 7/9/2012 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2011/093768 | 8/4/2011 | WO | A |
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8226137 | Kasper et al. | Jul 2012 | B2 |
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1361747 | Jul 2002 | CN |
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Entry |
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Extended European Search Report and Search Opinion received for EP Patent Application No. 11737357.1, mailed on May 27, 2013, 7 pages. |
International Preliminary Report on Patentability received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/SE2011/050026, mailed on Jul. 26, 2012, 8 pages. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/SE2011/050026, mailed on Mar. 21, 2011, 11 pages. |
Office Action received for Chinese Patent Application No. 201180006141.9, mailed on Feb. 19, 2014, 13 pages. |
Office Action received for European Patent Application No. 11737357.1, mailed on Jan. 31, 2014, 6 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20120306223 A1 | Dec 2012 | US |