Patent ID: 8556312
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
1. A container-lifting spreader comprising locking pins ( 3 , 4 ) that are insertable into seats formed at the corners of a shipping container and upon rotation about their longitudinal axes can be brought in locked engagement with the container, wherein the locking pins are in pairs associated with a common drive ( 7 ) effecting simultaneous rotation of the locking pins between locking and unlocking positions, the drive comprising a reversible electric motor ( 10 ) and a power transmission that comprises two push rods ( 6 ), each of which is in one end hinged to a locking pin ( 3 , 4 ) and in the other end hinged to an operating lever ( 15 ) included in the power transmission, and in such way that a driven movement of the operating lever is transferred via the push rods to rotational movements of the locking pins, and further wherein the power transmission comprises an input shaft ( 18 ) driven by the motor and having an external thread ( 19 ), as well as an output shaft ( 14 ) supporting the operating lever and likewise having an external gear ring ( 20 ), the said shafts in threaded engagement forming an angle gear, the angle gear providing a self-locking mesh of threads such that rotation of the input shaft ( 18 ) causes rotation of the output shaft ( 14 ) and the operating lever ( 15 ), whereas the opposite is prevented by the self-locking mesh of gears, characterized in that fixed stops ( 16 ; 17 ) are arranged to mechanically limit the movement of the operating lever ( 15 ) within an angular space (α), the fixed stops this way providing in cooperation with the self-locking angle gear absolute positioning of the locking pins in locking and unlocking rotational positions.