Patent Application
20050211654
The present invention relates to a tipping device for a gondola having a container pivotally attached to a wheeled base. Particularly, the invention relates to a tipping device having a hoist arrangement that lifts and tips the gondola container.
Gondolas, and such similarly related devices, are used in many industries to transport loose materials. Gondolas typically include a bucket or open-top container on a wheeled base. The container is hingedly connected to the wheeled base along one side so that the container can be tipped on its hinge and its contents emptied. For example, in the wine-making industry, gondolas are used to transport grapes from a field to a bin for processing into wine. Similarly, in the mining industry, hinged cargo containers are used to transport and dispense ore from a mine.
Conventional gondola tipping systems typically include a hoist and drive chain that lift and tip the gondola container to empty its contents. The hoist of a conventional gondola tipper includes a hook that is connected to one side of the container of the gondola opposite the hinged side of the container. The hoist lifts the hook, thereby lifting one side of the gondola container. The drive chain moves the hoist in a horizontal direction, positioning the hoist in different horizontal locations relative to the hinged side of the container. As the hook lifts one side of the gondola, the center of mass of the gondola and its contents pivot about the hinge. When the center of mass passes a vertical line extending upward from the hinge, gravity causes the container to tip over and rapidly accelerate downward, dumping its contents. The rapid downward acceleration of the container can place tremendous side load on the gondola tipping system, causing damage to the drive chain and potential harm to bystanders.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a gondola tipping system for a gondola including a pivotal container. The gondola tipping system includes a frame having a substantially horizontal beam supported above the ground, a trolley translatable along the beam, a winch mounted on the beam, and a lower block connectable to the pivotal container, the lower block being reeved to the trolley and the winch such that rotation of the winch and translation of the trolley causes the lower block to move both vertically and horizontally.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a tipping device for tipping a pivotally mounted container. The tipping device includes a frame having a substantially horizontal guide rail supported above the container, a trolley translatable along the guide rail, an upper coupled to the trolley and supporting at least one sheave, a winch mounted on the frame, an equalizing pulley mounted to the frame, and a lower block having a hook connectable to the gondola container. The lower block is reeved to the equalizing pulley, the upper block, and the winch by a hoist cable such that rotation of the winch and translation of the trolley causes the lower block to move both vertically and horizontally.
In a further embodiment, the invention provides a gondola tipping apparatus for tipping a pivotally mounted container. The gondola tipping apparatus includes a frame having a substantially horizontal guide rail supported above the container, a trolley having rollers engaged with the guide rail, and a rewind hoist having a cable reeved around at least two rollers on opposite ends of the guide rail and coupled to the trolley. The rewind hoist moves the trolley along the guide rail. A winch having a hoist cable attached to it is mounted on the frame. An equalizing pulley is mounted to the frame. A lower block has a hook connectable to the gondola container. The lower block is reeved to the equalizing pulley, the trolley, and the winch by the hoist cable such that rotation of the winch and translation of the trolley causes the lower block to move both vertically and horizontally.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a gondola tipping apparatus for tipping a pivotally-mounted container. The gondola tipping apparatus includes a frame having a substantially horizontal guide rail supported above the transport container and a trolley having rollers is engaged with the guide rail. A rewind hoist drives a cable reeved around at least two rollers at opposite ends of the guide rail. The cable is attached to the trolley. The rewind hoist provides a horizontal force that translates the trolley along the guide rail. An upper block is coupled to the trolley and supports at least one sheave. A winch is mounted on the frame and is attached to one end of a hoist cable. An equalizing pulley is mounted to the frame. The gondola tipping apparatus also includes a lower block having at least one sheave and a hook connectable to the gondola container. The lower block is reeved to the equalizing pulley, the upper block, and the winch by the hoist cable such that rotation of the winch provides a vertical force that moves the lower block vertically. A controller adjusts the aspect ratio of the vertical force and the horizontal force by simultaneously rotating the winch and translating the trolley so that the lower block moves through an arc.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a tipping device for tipping a pivotally-mounted container. The tipping device includes a frame having a substantially horizontal guide rail supported above the transport container, a trolley translatable along the guide rail, an upper block coupled to the trolley and supporting at least one sheave, a winch mounted on the frame, and a lower block having a hook connectable to the gondola container. The lower block is reeved to the upper block and the winch by a hoist cable such that rotation of the winch and translation of the trolley causes the lower block to move both vertically and horizontally. A shock absorber is mounted to the frame and receives one end of the hoist cable.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
As shown in
The gondola tipping apparatus 10 includes a hoist assembly 26 supported above the gondola 11 by a frame 28. The frame 28 comprises a substantially horizontal beam 30 supported by a pair of structural members 32 positioned on opposite sides of the gondola 11. In one embodiment, as shown in
The frame 28 supports the hoist assembly 26 that lifts and translates the container 12 about its pivotal axis using a winch 42, a trolley 38, and a rewind hoist 62. As illustrated in
The trolley 38 is adapted to move lengthwise along the horizontal beam 30 using the guide rail 36. As best seen in
The trolley 38 supports an upper block 54 typically comprising one or more sheaves 56. In one embodiment, as shown in
The trolley 36 moves back and forth along the horizontal beam 30 using a rewind hoist 62. The rewind hoist 62 comprises a brackets 64 located at an ends of the horizontal beam 30 opposite a reversible rewind hoist motor 72. The bracket 64 supports a shaft 66 around which a grooved wheel 68, or grooved roller, is placed. A cable 70 driven by a drum (not shown) coupled to the rewind hoist motor 72 loops around the grooved wheel 68 and is fastened to the trolley 38. As illustrated in
A lower block 74 connectable to the gondola container is reeved to the upper block 54 and the winch 42. The lower block 74 comprises one or more sheaves 76 upon which the hoist cable 46 is reeved. A fastener 78 is connected to the lower block 74 to engage the container 12 of the gondola 11. The fastener 78 can include a hook, a clamp, a latch, etc. In one embodiment, the fastener 78 and sheaves 76 can be mounted together on a single swivel. In an alternative embodiment, the fastener 78 can be mounted on a trunnion, and the sheaves 76 separately mounted on a pin.
The lower block 74 is vertically lifted and lowered by the action of the winch 42. As shown in
In an alternative embodiment of the gondola tipping apparatus 100, as illustrated in
In operation, a gondola 11 is positioned under the gondola tipping apparatus 10, 100 with the hinge 22 of the gondola next to a hopper 84 or receiving area. The fastener 78 of the gondola tipping apparatus 10 is secured to the container 12 of the gondola 11. In the embodiments illustrated in
The hoist assembly 26 exerts both vertical and horizontal forces on the container 12 to move the container 12 through an arc. The winch 42, acting on the hoist cable 46 over the upper block 54 of the trolley 38, supplies the vertical force that lifts the container 12 off the wheeled base 20 of the gondola 11. When the hoist assembly 26 is activated, the winch motor 44 rotates the shaft 45 and grooved drum 47 in a direction that draws in the hoist cable 46 and wraps it around the grooved drum 47. As the hoist cable 46 is drawn in, the lower block 74 and fastener 78 are drawn upward toward the upper block 54, imparting a vertical force that raises the container 12 up off the wheeled base 20.
The rewind hoist 62 supplies the translational force that moves the container 12 towards the hopper 84. When the rewind hoist 62 is activated, the rewind hoist motor 72 rotates the shaft 66 and its corresponding drum 68 so that the cable 70 moves the trolley 38 along the guide rail 36 and away from the winch 42. As the trolley 38 moves along the guide rail 36, it carries the lower block 74 and fastener or hook 78 in a horizontal direction. This movement imparts a translational force that moves the container 12 towards the hopper 84.
The hoist assembly 26 combines the vertical force of the winch 42 with the translational force of the rewind hoist 62 to rotate the container 12 through an approximately 90 degree arc. The vertical force is varied by adjusting the speed of the winch motor 44. Similarly, the translational force is varied by adjusting the speed of the rewind hoist motor 72. The combined speeds of the two motors 44, 72 determine the resultant force acting on the container 12. Although it is preferable to exert a force comprising both a vertical and horizontal component, one could apply the vertical and horizontal forces separately and sequentially.
The winch motor 44 and rewind hoist motor 72 are variable speed motors adjusted by a single controller (not shown). The smoothest arc of travel for the container 12 would be one in which the motors were infinitely varied such that the resultant force on the container 12 along each point in its arc of travel was tangential to the arc. It may be more cost effective to vary the resultant force a limited number of times as the container is rotated through an arc. The resultant force can consist of a single horizontal component, a single vertical component, and any combination in between. Limit switches may be integrated into each motor 44, 72 and its cable 46, 70 to signal when the motors 44, 72 should change speed to apply a new force. The limit switches can include, but are not limited to, geared limit switches, encoders and resolvers.
In one embodiment, three resultant forces are applied to the container 12 to rotate the container 12 through a 90 degree arc. From about zero degrees to about 30 degrees, the vertical force dominates as the container 12 is lifted off the wheeled base 20. A typical aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 90:10. From about 31 degrees to about 60 degrees, the vertical and horizontal forces are roughly equivalent. A typical aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 50:50. Finally, from about 61 degrees to about 90 degrees, the horizontal force dominates as the container 12 is move towards the hopper 84. A typical aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 10:90. Using these aspect ratios, the hoist motors need not be infinitely varied and the container 12 will still be carried through a relatively “smooth” arc of travel.
Although the above example discusses rotation of the container from zero to 90 degrees, it should be recognized that rotation can extend beyond 90 degrees. For example, if the load has a tendency to stick to the container 12, it may be preferable to rotate the container 12 beyond the 90 degree arc to insure complete dumping of its contents. In one embodiment, the trolley 38 stops directly over the hinge 22, and the winch 42 lets out enough hoist cable 46 to permit the container 12 to rotate beyond the 90 degree arc to sufficiently empty the contents of the container 12. In an alternative embodiment, the trolley 38 moves beyond the vertical point directly above the hinge 22 as the winch 42 simultaneously lets out sufficient hoist cable 46 to rotate the container beyond 90 degrees. In this embodiment, any side load to the hoist assembly 26 would be reduced or eliminated entirely.
Once the contents have been dumped, the winch motor 44 and hoist motor 72, reverse direction to return the container 12 to the wheeled base 20. The rewind hoist motor 72 rotates the shaft 66 and corresponding wheel 68 in the opposite direction to pull the trolley 38 along the guide rail 36 towards the winch 42. As the trolley 38 moves along the guide rail 36, the lower block 74 and fastener 78 are similarly pulled along, moving the container 12 away from the hopper 84. Similarly, the winch motor 44 rotates the winch shaft 45 and drum 47 in the opposite direction, causing the hoist cable 46 to unwind from the drum 47. As the hoist cable 46 unwinds, the lower block 74 and fastener 78 drop downward, lowering the container 12 onto the wheeled base 20. The aspect ratio of vertical to horizontal forces used to lower or return the container 12 is typically the same as that used to raise or tip the container 12. In one embodiment, as the container 12 is lowered from about 90 degrees to about 61 degrees, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 10:90. As the container 12 is lowered from about 60 degree to about 31 degrees, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 50:50. Finally, as the container 12 is lowered from about 30 degrees to about zero degrees, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal forces is approximately 90:10. After the empty container 12 has been place back onto the wheeled base 20, the fastener 78 is disconnected from the container 12 and the gondola removed from underneath the gondola tipping apparatus 10, 100.
An example of the winch speeds and trolley speeds that may be used to rotate the container 12 about its hinge 22 are provided in Table 1.
In another embodiment, the winch motor 44 and rewind hoist motor 72 can operate at infinitely variable speeds. A programmable logic controller (PLC) can be used to continuously vary the speed of the motors 44, 72 so that at each point along the arc during the raising and lowering of the container 12, the resultant force is tangential to the arc.
Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04007245.6 | Mar 2004 | EP | regional |
