DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A CONTAINER, PARTICULARLY A BOTTOM-UNLOADING CONTAINER

Abstract

Controlling a container, such as a spreader, is described for engaging, retaining, and moving containers, as well as for unloading containers, particularly bottom-unloading containers. A spreader includes a frame having mounted thereon twistlocks, an actuator, a movable engagement mechanism, and force transmission means connecting the actuator and the movable engagement mechanism. The actuator and the force transmission means are substantially disposed along the long sides of the frame, and the movable engagement mechanism is substantially disposed on the short sides of the frame. The actuator allows the movable engagement mechanism to move reciprocally primarily in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The spreader significantly expands the functionality of devices used for engaging, retaining, moving, and unloading containers, makes it possible to unload a bottom-unloading container, and also allows the automation, simplification, and acceleration of the unloading process of such a container.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a container, comprising: a frame having mounted thereon twistlocks, an actuator, a movable engagement mechanism, and force transmission means connecting the actuator and the movable engagement mechanism, the actuator and the force transmission means being substantially disposed along long sides of the frame, the movable engagement mechanism being substantially disposed on short sides of the frame, and the actuator being configured to allow the movable engagement mechanism to move reciprocally primarily in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the frame.

2. The device for controlling the container according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is substantially disposed in a middle part of the frame.

3. The device for controlling the container according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic drive comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder.

4. The device for controlling the container according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure generating device for the hydraulic drive.

5. The device for controlling the container according to claim 3, further comprising a pressure supply means for the hydraulic drive.

6. The device for controlling the container according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission means are a cable-block mechanism.

7. The device for controlling the container according to claim 6, wherein the cable-block mechanism comprises a pulley block.

8. The device for controlling the container according to claim 1, wherein the movable engagement mechanism comprises a rotary mechanism and an additional twistlock engaging a mating part of the container.

9. The device for controlling the container according to claim 8, wherein the actuator and the force transfer means are configured to allow the additional twistlock to move rotatably.

10. The device for controlling the container according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic drive comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows the device for controlling a container.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the device for controlling a container with the extended movable engagement mechanism.

[0038] FIG. 3 schematically shows mounting of the device for controlling a container onto a container.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a device for controlling a container mounted on a container.

[0040] FIG. 5 schematically shows controlling hatches of a container with the use of the device for controlling a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The described device for controlling a container, or spreader 1, is schematically shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and comprises a frame 2 with twistlocks 3 mounted on it, an actuator 4, a movable engagement mechanism 5 and force transmission means connecting the actuator 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5.

[0042] Like in conventional spreaders and other means of moving containers, the twistlocks 3 are used to engage and hold a container 6, entering into corresponding fittings 7 of the container, which are located on the top of the container 6 (FIG. 3). For the convenience of matching the twistlocks 3 with the fittings 7 of the container, rails (not shown in the drawings) may be additionally installed on the frame 2.

[0043] The actuator 4 is intended for moving the movable engagement mechanism 5 and, correspondingly, manipulating the hatches of the container 6, as will be described below. The actuator 4 may be any known actuator, for example, electric, magnetic, hydraulic, etc. Taking into account high requirements to container-handling devices, such as provided power and reliability, the actuator 4 can be realized as a hydraulic drive. In such a case, the actuator 4 may comprise one or more hydraulic cylinders, depending on power that it must provide and overall dimensions of containers which are controlled by the described spreader 1.

[0044] The actuator 4 is located substantially along (parallel, or close to parallel, to) the long sides of the frame 2, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and, respectively, along the long sides of the container 1, or horizontally. First, it ensures a compact design of the described device for controlling a container. Second, such arrangement of the actuator 4 enables to make it larger than if the actuator 4 was located, for example, vertically on the end sides of the spreader 1. And the large size of the actuator 4 also means higher power it can provide, thus increasing its reliability. In addition, it is reasonable to arrange the actuator 4 substantially in the middle part of the frame 2, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, to ensure the best balance of the spreader 1 and sufficient space to accommodate the force transmission means on the frame 2.

[0045] The movable engagement mechanism 5 is configured to engage with the corresponding means for controlling hatches that control the positions of the hatches 8 of the container 6 (FIG. 5). For this purpose, the movable engagement mechanism 5 may comprise, for example, an additional twistlock 9 and a rotary mechanism 10 (FIG. 2) for rotating the additional twistlock 9 when the additional twistlock 9 matches the means for controlling the hatches 8 for interlocking the additional twistlock 9 with the means for controlling the hatches 8.

[0046] These means for controlling the hatches 8 may be drawbars 11 which first ends are connected to the corresponding hatch 8, and the second ends engage the movable engagement mechanism 5. Such engagement can be made, for example, by means of an additional twistlock 9 and a mating fitting (not shown in the drawings) located at the second ends of the drawbars 11.

[0047] The movable engagement mechanism 5 is located on the short, or end, sides of the frame 2. This enables to arrange it as close as possible to means for controlling the hatches of the container 6.

[0048] Since the movement directions of the actuator 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5 are substantially mutually perpendicular, the force transmission means connecting the actuator 4 and the movable engagement mechanism 5 should ensure a change in the direction of force application. For this, the force transmission means may be realized by any method known to a person skilled in the art, for example, be a cable-block mechanism.

[0049] As an example, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the force transmission means in the form of a cable-block mechanism, comprising at least cables 12 (or chains, or other suitable means) and roller mechanisms 13 (or blocks). At one end, the cables 12 are connected to the actuator 4 and at the other end to the movable engagement mechanism 5; and the roller mechanisms 13 are used for said change in the movement direction. Further, especially when working with a large, heavily loaded container 6, the cable-block mechanism may also comprise a pulley block (not shown in the drawings), which allows either to increase a transmitted force, or, to increase the run of the movable engagement mechanism 5 (when a return pulley block is used).

[0050] Thus, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the movable engagement mechanism 5 moves substantially in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame 2, engages the mating means of controlling the hatches and transmits force from the actuator 4 to the hatches 8 of the container 6. For the convenience of viewing, FIG. 2 shows the movable engagement mechanism 5 in the extended position, extending beyond the boundary of the lower plane of the frame 2. This position of the movable engagement mechanism 5 may correspond to the maximum opening of the hatches 8. It is clear that the movable engagement mechanism 5 may also rise above the lower plane of the frame 2, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, when closing the hatches 8.

[0051] Further, the force transmission means may ensure transmission of not only reciprocating motion from the actuator 4 to the movable engagement mechanism 5, but also forces to the rotary mechanism 10 to provide rotational movement of the additional twistlock 9 for engagement with the mating fitting at the second ends of the drawbars 11. Alternatively, the rotary mechanism 10 may itself be a drive ensuring rotational movement of the twistlock 9. In any case, this enables to fully automate the process of manipulating the hatches 8 of the container 6.

[0052] The frame 2 may additionally accommodate a control unit 14 for the actuator 4 and for the drives of the twistlocks 3 for engaging and holding the container 6. In particular, if the actuator 4 is electric or magnetic, the control unit 14 may be an electric generator or, for example, a distribution panel to which external power is supplied. If the actuator 4 is hydraulic, the control unit 14 may comprise a pressure generating device for the hydraulic actuator or may simply comprise means of supplying pressure for the hydraulic actuator from the outside, for example, from an external compressor. Furthermore, the control unit 14 itself or another additional device may comprise electronic systems for monitoring, troubleshooting, controlling the spreader 1, communicating with the operator or other external equipment.

[0053] Similarly to the actuator 4, it is desirable that the force transmission means are located substantially along (in parallel to or close to a parallel position) the long sides of the frame 2 and, accordingly, along the long sides of the container 6, or horizontally. This ensures the compactness of the spreader 1, and also enables to transmit high power (force) to the hatches 8 and ensures reliability of the described device for controlling a container.

[0054] The described device for controlling a container may be suspended by any known method directly on a crane or other conventional device for lifting and moving cargoes, for example, via additional twistlocks 15.

[0055] The described device for controlling a container is operated as follows.

[0056] The spreader 1 is suspended (mounted) on a crane or other conventional device for lifting and moving cargoes, for example, by the frame 2 or additional twistlocks 15.

[0057] Then, the spreader 1 is moved to a container 6 (FIG. 3) and lowered onto the container 6 (FIG. 4). The twistlocks 3 engage the fittings 7 on the top of the container 6, and their engagement is locked by, for example, turning the twistlocks 3 by means of the rotary mechanism 10.

[0058] After locking the engagement between the twistlocks 3 and the fittings 7, a crane or a device for lifting and moving cargoes can move the spreader 1 and the container 6 attached thereto.

[0059] To open and close the hatches 8 of the container 6, when, for example, dumping the container 6, the movable engagement mechanism 5 is moved, by using the actuator 4 and the force transmission means, to the mating hatch controls and brings them into mutual engagement. A further movement of the movable engagement mechanism 5 causes movement of the mating hatch controls and, correspondingly, the hatches 8 as such.

[0060] For example, the movable engagement mechanism 5 comprises the rotary mechanism 10 and the additional twistlock 9, and the mating means for controlling hatches comprise a mating fitting (not shown in the drawings) and the drawbars 11 connecting the mating fitting and the hatches 8, as described above. The actuator 4 moves, by the force transmission means (comprising, for example, the cables 12 and the roller mechanisms 13), the movable engagement mechanism 5 to the mating fitting so that the additional twistlock 9 enters the mating fitting. Further, the rotary mechanism 10 rotates the additional twistlock 9 (for example, by a built-in drive, or by transmitting the corresponding force from the actuator 4, or it may be done manually), so that the additional twistlock 9 engages the mating fitting. Then, up or down movement of the movable engagement mechanism 5 causes the similar movement of the mating fitting and, through it, the corresponding up or down movement of the drawbars 11 that control the opening and closing the hatches 8.

[0061] It should be noted that for opening the hatches 8 either a simple unidirectional movement of the drawbars 11 down, or a more complex movement, for example, first a small shift of the drawbars 11 up and then a longer shift down, may be required. Such a two-stage movement of the drawbars 11 may be required, for example, when the hatches 8 should be slightly lifted to unlock them first, and only after the hatches 8 can be opened by moving the drawbars 11 down. Apparently, any algorithm for moving the movable engagement mechanism 5 that is required to unlock, open, close, and lock the hatches 8 can be implemented by using the actuator 4 and/or the control unit 14.

[0062] Moreover, by using the actuator 4 and/or the control unit 14 it is also possible to realize additional or service functions, such as cleaning the hatches 8 or the entire container 6, for example, by imparting a low-frequency oscillation to them, which can be easily realized by methods known to those skilled in the art when using the described device for controlling a container.

[0063] Thus, the described device for controlling a container enables to significantly expand the functionality of conventional spreaders used for engaging, holding, moving and unloading containers, ensures the possibility of unloading a bottom-dump container and provides automation, simplification and acceleration of the process of dumping such a container.