Bi-planar cable cross reeving system

A crane and lift apparatus for controlling the lifting and lowering of large cargo containers. A trolley assembly includes a hoist drum from which is suspended a system of cable or rope reevings connected to material securing assembly. The apparatus is effective to unload containers stacked one above another from one location to an alternate location. The system of cable reevings permits the raising and lowering of containers in planes defined by X, Y, and Z axes. The cables are deployed from the hoist drum on the trolley assembly to sheaves disposed at the four corners of the material securing assembly and then returned to anchor assemblies secured to an undercarriage of the trolley assembly. The sheaves are selectively angled and located in headblock assemblies positioned on the material securing assembly. A system of brakes controls movement of the cables through the sheaves. By selectively combining the angling of the sheaves with selective application of the sheave brakes, it is possible to resolve moment forces acting at each corner of a container so as to abosrb the constantly changing inertial movements that occur when the container is raised, lowered or moved horizontally. As a result, the apparatus is effective to dampen or retard the container from swaying, rolling, or pitching, from pendulous movement, and can thereby control the deployment of the container within precise vertical, horizontal, or skewed planes of orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the handling of transport 
containers and, more particularly, is concerned with an apparatus and 
method for lifting and transporting a plurality of large containers 
through the use of a gantry crane which includes a trolley having a bridge 
hoist drum from which is suspended a system of rope reevings connected to 
a spreader assembly. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
In recent years, the use of large transport containers of several 
standardized forms has gained widespread use in industry. These containers 
permit the efficient transfer of cargo from ships to transporting 
vehicles, between different transporting vehicles, and to and from storage 
facilities. Because of the large size of the cargo containers, it has been 
necessary to develop equipment having the capability of effectively 
handling the heavy loads required for their lifting and transport. One 
common apparatus for lifting and transporting containers from place to 
place is in the form of large, self-powered gantry cranes having several 
separate powered functions. The crane must deliver power to drive wheels, 
steering mechanisms and brakes. The equipment must also be capable of 
moving interconnected stabilizing or bridge beams for positioning over the 
loads to be carried and of operating a hoist mechanism to raise and lower 
the containers. 
In the transportation industry, specific types of transport containers have 
been developed for use as trailers adaptable to be connected to a truck 
tractor, self-contained units for loading aboard ship, or to be secured 
upon flat-bed railroad cars. In order to improve the efficiency of moving 
containers from one place to another, such as from a roadway to a railroad 
or a ship's hold, or any combination from or to such positions of repose, 
crane apparatus have been developed to straddle at least two parallel 
roads, tracks and the like. In addition, within the past few years, the 
practice of double stacking of containers has become more popular 
requiring from twenty-five to thirty feet of clearance between a roadway 
or railhead and the bottom side of a hoisting apparatus. 
Accordingly, the long lengths of cable that are reeled off or returned to 
the hoist drum disposed on the girders are subject to swaying, swinging 
and the like when connected to a container or trailer holding from thirty 
to forty tons of dead weight materials. Further, when a container is 
lifted from the ground on one road or track and moves vertically in close 
proximity to two or more stacked containers on an adjacent road or track, 
the lifted container is likely to swing into the stacked containers and 
cause considerable damage. Thus, there is a need to provide apparatus that 
can prevent swaying or swinging of containers, through the entire vertical 
distance the containers are raised or lowered, when moved from ground 
level to the top of several stacked containers or at any level 
therebetween. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
lifting apparatus that is stable during vertical movement between ground 
level and the uppermost horizontal beam structure of a crane. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lifting 
apparatus that includes a bi-planar cable cross reeving system that 
prevents pendular movement and controls raising and lowering of the 
containers within precisely defined vertical and/or horizontal planes. 
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a lifting 
apparatus capable of raising and lowering containers from ground level in 
substantially rectilinear vertical movement. 
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a 
bi-planar cable cross reeving system effective to dampen movement of 
containers with regard to primary planes of orientation as defined by an 
XY vertical plane and YZ vertical plane. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting apparatus 
having an upper bridge frame assembly movable back and forth in a 
horizontal direction and a lower spreader assembly with grappler arms 
adaptable to raise or lower trailers or containers in substantially 
vertical rectilinear alignment within primary vertical planes of 
reference. 
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present 
invention wherein there is provided an improved crane and lift apparatus 
having hoist drum means including a cable reeving system to connect with 
and control a spreader assembly so that movement of containers at optimum 
efficiency is achieved by moving the containers from one location to 
another location at a different vertical level. The gantry crane apparatus 
includes an upper trolley power group assembly adaptable to move 
horizontally over a plurality of stacks of containers, a lower frame 
spreader assembly, or other suitable material securing means depending 
from and movable vertically to and from the upper trolley power group 
assembly, a plurality of cables having first ends secured to and rotatably 
disposed on hoist drum means, adaptable to rotate about a shaft supported 
on the trolley power group assembly, the cables extending downwardly and 
reeved through rotatable sheave means supported for angular orientation by 
headblock assemblies secured to opposite ends of the spreader assembly, 
the cables extending upwardly from the sheave means and being connected to 
dead end cylinder means secured to an undercarriage of the trolley 
assembly, a grapple arm assembly, magnetic holding means or other article 
holding means at times disposed upon the lower frame spreader assembly for 
securing therein a trailer, container, or the like, and power drive means 
for selectively moving the upper trolley assembly in a horizontal 
direction, and for moving the lower frame spreader assembly vertically to 
selective levels between ground level and the upper bridge frame assembly, 
whereby the trailers or containers are selectively moved from one location 
to another.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a gantry crane and lifting 
apparatus, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, capable of 
directed movement along ground level and adaptable for lifting and 
transporting one or more of a stack of large containers used in roadway 
shipping or railroad transportation applications. The apparatus 10 
includes a plurality of gantry portal assemblies constructed to include 
horizontal beams or girders having a number of known features. The lower 
portion of the gantry crane includes a pair of lower side beams 12 
supported by four pivotally attached wheel assemblies 14, selectively 
powered by drive means for moving the crane along ground level. Two 
upright corner columns 16 are supportably disposed at outer ends of each 
lower side beam 12 and in turn support at their upper ends the respective 
outboard ends of two beams or girders 18. The assembly thus described is 
effective to move along and span a transportation container workplace, a 
plurality of roadways, railroad tracks, and the like. 
A trolley power group assembly 20 is disposed upon and extends between the 
girders 18 and is adaptable to move back and forth thereacross. The 
trolley assembly 20 has located at each of its four corners rotatable 
flanged wheel means 22 fitted on railroad rails 24 or other suitable means 
secured to the top side of the beams or girders 18 which act to facilitate 
back and forth movement of the trolley from one side to the other of the 
gantry crane apparatus. A power package 26 controlled by an operator 
seated in a cab 28 causes the trolley assembly 20 to be selectively moved 
along the rails 24. The trolley assembly 20 includes at one side thereof a 
first end 30 and a second end 32 of a hoist drum means 33 adaptable for 
rotatable movement about longitudinal axle means 34 suitably secured in 
bearings affixed to a portion of the structural frame arrangement of the 
trolley. A drive train assembly 36 connects the hoist drum 33 to the power 
package 26 for selective control thereof by the operator in cab 28. A 
brake assembly 38 is disposed at opposite sides of the trolley assembly 20 
and is effective to permit movement thereof along the rails 24 as desired 
and controlled by the crane operator. 
A spreader assembly 40 is disposed below and depends from the trolley 
assembly 20 by means of a reeved cable system, generally identified by 
reference number 41, which will be hereinafter explained in detail. The 
first end 30 of hoist drum 33 includes a first rope or cable 42 having one 
end secured thereto and is wrapped therearound for a preselected number of 
revolutions in a clockwise orientation when observed from the left side as 
shown in FIG. 5. The free end of the cable 42 is directed downwardly from 
the drum 33 and is reeved or fed through a first sheave 44 rotatably 
secured in a headblock assembly 45 secured to a top side of one end of the 
spreader assembly 40. The cable 42 is then directed upwardly to a dead end 
cylinder 46 secured to an undercarriage structure 48 forming a part of the 
trolley assembly 20. 
Similarly, a second rope or cable 50 is secured to and wrapped around the 
first end 30 of hoist drum 33 a preselected number of revolutions in a 
clockwise manner when viewed from the left side as shown in FIG. 5. The 
free end of cable 50 is then directed downwardly from the drum 33 and 
reeved or fed through a second sheave 52 rotatably secured in a headblock 
assembly 47 secured to the top side of the other end of the spreader 
assembly 40. The cable 50 is then directed upwardly to a dead end cylinder 
53 secured to the undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley assembly 20. 
A third rope or cable 54 is secured to and wrapped around the second end 32 
of hoist drum 33 for a preselected number of revolutions in a clockwise 
direction as shown from the left in FIG. 5. The free end of cable 54 is 
then directed downwardly from the drum 33 and is reeved or fed through a 
third sheave 58 rotatably secured in the headblock assembly 47 secured to 
the top side of the other end of the spreader assembly 40. The cable 54 is 
then directed upwardly to a dead end cylinder 59 secured to the 
undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley assembly 20. 
In similar fashion, a fourth rope or cable 62 is secured to and wrapped 
around the second end 32 of the hoist drum 33 for a preselected number of 
revolutions in a clockwise direction when viewed from the left in FIG. 5. 
The free end of cable 62 is then directed downwardly from the drum 33 and 
reeved or fed through a fourth sheave 64 rotatably secured in the 
headblock assembly 45 secured to the top side of the one end of the 
spreader assembly 40. The cable 62 is then directed upwardly to a dead end 
cylinder 66 secured to the undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley 
assembly 20. 
Next referring to FIG. 6, the spreader assembly 40 is disposed below and 
depends from the trolley assembly 20 by means of a second embodiment of a 
reeved cable system, generally identified by reference number 70, which 
will be hereinafter explained in detail. The first end 30 of hoist drum 33 
includes a first rope or cable 72 having one end secured thereto and is 
wrapped therearound for a preselected number of revolutions in a counter 
clockwise orientation when observed from the right side as shown in FIG. 
6. The free end of the cable 72 is directed downwardly from the drum 33 
and is reeved or fed through a first sheave 74 rotatably secured in a 
headblock assembly 76 secured to a top side of one end of the spreader 
assembly 40. The cable 72 is then directed upwardly to a dead end cylinder 
78 secured to the undercarriage structure 48 (not shown) forming a part of 
the trolley assembly 20. 
Similarly, a second rope or cable 80 is secured to and wrapped around the 
first end 30 of hoist drum 33 a preselected number of revolutions in a 
counter clockwise manner when viewed from the right side as shown in FIG. 
6. The free end of cable 80 is then directed downwardly from the drum 33 
and reeved or fed through a second sheave 82 rotatably secured in the 
headblock assembly 76 secured to the top side of the one end of the 
spreader assembly 40. The cable 80 is then directed upwardly to a dead end 
cylinder 84 secured to the undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley 
assembly 20. 
A third rope or cable 86 is secured to and wrapped around the second end 32 
of hoist drum 33 for a preselected number of revolutions in a counter 
clockwise direction as shown from the right in FIG. 6. The free end of 
cable 86 is then directed downwardly from the drum 33 and is reeved or fed 
through third sheave 88 rotatably secured in a headblock assembly 90 
secured to the top side of the other end of the spreader assembly 40. The 
cable 86 is then directed upwardly to a dead end cylinder 92 secured to 
the undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley assembly 20. 
In similar fashion, a fourth rope or cable 94 is secured to and wrapped 
around the second end 32 of the hoist drum 33 for a preselected number of 
revolutions in a counter clockwise direction when viewed from the right in 
FIG. 6. The free end of cable 94 is then directed downwardly from the drum 
33 and reeved or fed through a fourth sheave 96 rotatably secured in the 
headblock assembly 90 secured to the top side of the other end of the 
spreader assembly 40. The cable 94 is then directed upwardly to a dead end 
cylinder 98 secured to the undercarriage structure 48 of the trolley 
assembly 20. 
It will be noted in comparing the structure and orientation of FIGS. 5 and 
6 that in FIG. 5 the horizontal axis 34 of the hoist drum 33 is parallel 
to the longitudinal axes of beams 18 and transverse to a longitudinal axis 
of the trolley assembly 20. In contradistinction, in FIG. 6, the 
longitudinal axis 34 of hoist drum 33 is transverse to the longitudinal 
axes of the girders or beams 18 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of 
the trolley assembly 20. 
Now referring to FIGS. 7-15, there is shown in schematic form the manner in 
which the cables or ropes of the reeved cable system 70 depicted in FIG. 6 
are utilized to provide preselected precise control of the spreader or 
material holding means 40. This arrangement, similar to the manner in 
which a puppet is manipulated by strings or wires, is effective to 
maintain the spreader in a neutral position whereby it is kept in a 
precise, non-skew alignment normal to the longitudinal axis of the girder 
or beams 18 of the gantry 10. In addition, the arrangement can provide up 
to 10 degrees rotation in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise 
direction about a vertical, centerline axis of the spreader. 
In FIGS. 7-9 there is shown in schematic form a one end of the connections 
between the dead end cylinders and the undercarriage of the trolley. It 
will be understood that a similar structure is secured at the other end of 
the undercarriage of the trolley. Dead end cylinders 78 and 84 are 
adaptable to extend and retract predetermined distances either separately 
or in unison so as to pull in or let out the cables 72 and 80 so as to 
adjustably control the rotation of the spreader 40 about its vertical, 
centerline axis. It will be understood that the dead end cylinders 92 and 
98 secured to the undercarriage 48 of the trolley 20 along with the cables 
86 and 94 are adaptable to extend and retract along with cables 72 and 80 
so as to maintain the spreader 40 in any desired position of orientation 
within the confines of the gantry crane. It will be noted the cross 
reeving arrangement as shown is effective to prevent swaying movement of 
the spreader and is accomplished without any intersection or interference 
of the cables between and among one another. 
In similar fashion, FIGS. 10-12 and FIGS. 13-15 show structure of the cross 
reeving system of the invention whereby a spreader can be rotated about 
its vertical centerline axis a total of at least ten degrees in a counter 
clockwise direction and up to ten degrees in a clockwise direction about 
its vertical centerline axis. This ability to adjustably control the 
orientation of the spreader is especially advantageous where a gantry is 
positioned over a container for attachment thereto and it is determined 
the container is not positioned in precise alignment with the spreader for 
attachment therebetween. Accordingly, by selective operation of dead end 
cylinders 78, 84, 92 and 98, it is possible to position the spreader 20 
over and about the container, rotate the spreader in either a counter 
clockwise or a clockwise direction into precise alignment with the 
container and obtain a secure connection therebetween. 
Next referring to FIG. 16, a portion of the trolley group assembly 20 is 
shown including the hoist drum 33; the cables 72, 80, 86 and 94 wrapped 
therearound; and its drive train assembly 36. The cables 72, 80, 86 and 94 
are respectively reeved through sheaves 74, 82, 88 and 96, each depicted 
in phantom lines deployed below the trolley 20 and secured to the 
headblock assemblies connected by fixed, swivel or other suitable means to 
the spreader 40. It will be noted that each sheave is mounted in its 
headblock assembly so that its centerline axis is maintained at an angle 
that is oblique to the longitudinal axis 34 of the hoist drum 33. This 
angled mounting position of each sheave serves to facilitate the paying 
out and reeling in of the individual cables in a manner that prevent 
intersection and interference thereamong during lowering and raising of 
the spreader, during the process of connecting it to a cargo container, 
raising and transporting the container to a preselected position within 
the confines of the gantry crane. Also, by manipulation of the dead end 
cylinders 78, 84, 92 and 98, the individual cables 72, 80, 86 and 94 can 
be individually controlled so as to selectively rotate and skew the 
position of the spreader over and about a container into close proximity 
thereto and thereby effect a secure connection therebetween without the 
need for several "passes" previously required to accomplish the desired 
result. 
Referring now to FIGS. 17-19, there is shown disposed a two block guide 
member 100 depending from and secured to the undercarriage 48 of the 
trolley 20. The guide member 100 preferably comprises a cylindrical upper 
member portion 102 and a cylindrical lower member portion 104. The 
diameter of upper member 102 is substantially larger than the diameter of 
lower member 104. A truncated base frame means 106 is connected and 
secured to an upper side portion of the spreader 40 and has mounted 
thereon a cone-shaped two block receptacle 108. 
The cone-shaped receptacle 108 has provided at its lower end a cylindrical 
opening 110 having a diameter that is somewhat larger and adaptable to 
secure therein the lower member 104 of guide member 100. In addition, 
there may be provided a power cable (not shown) for attachment to the 
bottom end of the lower member 104 that drapes downwardly through the 
opening 110 into a cable basket (not shown) that is disposed within the 
base frame 106. The cable basket serves to receive and store the power 
cable whenever the spreader is raised upwardly toward the undercarriage of 
the trolley. It will be noted the power cable acts to help locate and 
direct the lower member 104 into the opening 110 of the receptacle 108 for 
positive securement therein and therebetween. It will be further noted 
that when the guide block member 100 and the receptacle 108 are connected, 
the trolley 20 and the spreader 40 are joined together in a unitary and 
stable relationship therebetween. 
In FIG. 17 the dead end cylinders 78 and 84 are shown in greater detail and 
include respectively a redundant rod 112 and 114. Each redundant rod, 112 
and 114, along with a respective redundant rod (not shown) for the other 
dead end cylinders 92 and 98, serves to provide a counter-acting moment 
couple to resist the torsion forces encountered in the cables as they are 
payed out and reeled in during lowering and raising of the spreader away 
from and to the trolley. 
In FIGS. 19 and 20, a separate caliper brake 118 is mounted on the shaft of 
each sheave 74, 76, 88 and 96 for individual control thereof and to 
selectively prevent rotation of each sheave. This arrangement serves to 
assist an operator of the gantry to "fine tune" the spreader over and 
about a cargo container or other like article by selective control of 
rotation and skew of the spreader so as to obtain quick and easy 
connection between the spreader and the container. 
In operation of the gantry crane apparatus of the invention, the structure 
may be moved along ground level to be positioned over at least one road or 
track, or more probably a plurality of roads or tracks on which are 
located one or more containers, or other working load materials, disposed 
singly or in stacks adjacent to each other. If the containers are stacked 
to a high level, the spreader assembly 40 is moved to an upper most 
position just below the undercarriage 48 of the trolley assembly 20. The 
spreader assembly 40 and the trolley assembly 20 may be locked together by 
virtue of the guide means 100 being received by the receptacle means 108. 
An attachment means in the form of corner guides 120, or other suitable 
means for effecting a positive connection, such as corner locks, magnetic 
attractors, and the like, secured to the spreader 40 are then attached to 
the container to be transported and the container is then lifted off the 
stack. The trolley assembly is then suitably moved transversely, if it is 
desired to move the container to an adjacent parallel location. If the 
movement of the container is to be toward another location that is 
tandemly oriented, the gantry crane is moved along the ground. 
When the gantry is suitably moved to a newly selected location, assuming 
the container is to be positioned on ground level or a truck or railroad 
car near ground level, and it is necessary to lower the container in close 
proximity to other stacked containers, the operator is able by 
manipulating the paying out of cables, for example, cables 72, 80, 86 and 
94 to place the container in the desired lower most position. If required, 
the operator can achieve precise positioning of the container by 
controlled operation of the dead end cylinders 78, 84, 92 and 98 to keep 
the container level with no roll or pitch, to rotate the container counter 
clockwise or clockwise within a range of ten degrees, or a total 
rotational movement of twenty degrees, and to obtain a desired skew by 
raising or lowering the four corner positions of the spreader assembly 40, 
which in turn controls the corner connections between the spreader and the 
container. Thus, it can be seen that the gantry crane is adaptable to 
position and adjust the container in any of a number of directional 
movements; namely, logitudinal, transversal, rectilineal verticalness, or 
in a plurality of incremental corner vertical adjustments to achieve a 
desired skew. 
In a similar manner, when it is desired to pick up a container that is on 
ground level next to a stack of several containers piled on top of each 
other, the spreader assembly 40 is moved to a location substantially over 
head the ground level container. The spreader assembly 40 is then lowered 
to an elevation just above the container by controlled paying out of the 
cables secured to the spreader assembly 40 in order to minimize or avoid 
any interference with or crushing of containers that might occur. The 
spreader assembly 40 is then suitably positioned in close proximity of the 
container and if required is rolled, pitched, rotated and/or skewed to 
facilitate a connection between the attachment means and the container. In 
this manner, it can be readily understood that close control of attachment 
between the spreader assembly and the container is achieved that dampens 
or retards the container from swaying, swinging, and/or pendulous 
movement, and thereby provides a stable and efficient environment for 
handling working load materials. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to the above 
preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, 
that various changes may be made and equivalence may be substituted for 
elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present 
invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular 
situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without 
departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is 
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments 
disclosed for carrying out this invention but that the present invention 
includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.