Abstract:
A device for inserting and removing securing fittings for twist-lock containers includes a support plate for containers, which is provided with a pneumatically or hydraulically driven screwing mechanism with a slot gripper for each expected position of a securing fitting for the twist-lock container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application represents a National Stage application of PCT/DE2007/000380 entitled “Device and Method for Inserting and Removing Securing Fittings for Twist-Lock Containers” filed Mar. 1, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    On loading and unloading container ships or other container-transporting means use is made of so-called twist locks, which are inserted in recesses at the corners of the containers for fixing the same to one another or to the stacking area. 
         [0003]    There is clearly a need of rapidly fitting these twist locks, which do not form part of the containers, and then release them again from the container when not in use and to safely keep them in stock for the following use, so that they do not become dirty or lost. Thus, twist locks not correctly stored or placed in the operating area on the roadway used by large stackers constitute a hazard for the stacker tyres, because they can damage the same. 
         [0004]    Hitherto part of this problem, namely the fitting using complicated devices such as are e.g. described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,249 B1 has been solved or, as is standard practice through the world in both small and large ports, by workers, who perform on the containers the corresponding manipulations such as removal, gripping and attaching when the containers are hanging at eye level on a crane. 
         [0005]    The further problem exists that the workers can only move up to the container when it is stationary and before this the area at and around the container where lowering takes place is blocked. Moreover, hitherto the crane operator has had to estimate to what level he must lower the container so that it can be easily reached manually, whilst greatly reducing in stepwise manner the lowering speed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention solves the problem with a device that not only creates a clearly defined platform on which by corresponding guides a container comes to rest at a clearly defined location and where a complete blocking is possible (i.e. unlike as hitherto an approach is avoided). 
         [0007]    Instead, if desired, cranes or people can move freely around the platform. In particular, access is no longer necessary under suspended loads on a freely hanging container and instead, if needed at all, access takes place to a set-down plate on which no container is resting (i.e. the workers are also freely visible). 
         [0008]    Locking and unlocking takes place automatically. A proposal is made either for a pneumatic or a hydraulic screwing device operating with a piston or in particular a compressed air-operated screwing device similar to the wheel nut tools used in motor vehicle workshops. 
         [0009]    For removing a twist lock only a roughly 90° rotation is needed. This takes place in that the twist locks come to rest in, in each case, a reception slot provided in the device (facing the anticipated locations of the container corners), which bring them into the rotation position where they can be detached from the container counter to the spring tension provided in the twist lock. 
         [0010]    After rotating a twist lock end into a clearly defined position the container can be raised and the twist locks are left in the receptacle. 
         [0011]    Through magazines provided at the four corners on reinserting the usually four twist locks at the container corners, insertion can take place equally rapidly and in automated manner. 
         [0012]    However, retrofitting of such a platform is not readily possible for use in ports where heavy industrial trucks move freely around and cranes run on rails along the quay. It is not possible for power supply or compressed air lines to be laid readily on the harbour surface, because they would be exposed to considerable loading by the heavy cranes or would be prejudicial to free movement and it is also not possible for a motor to generate energy, because then “refuelling” would be needed at rectangular intervals and unacceptable maintenance costs would be involved. In particular the supply of compressed air is very complicated. 
         [0013]    Therefore a preferred development of the invention is able to produce the compressed air required for operating the receptacles in that below the receptacle or set-down plate gas storage devices or reservoirs are provided, which are compressed by the containers placed thereon and by corresponding electronic or hydraulic valve control supply the then compressed gas to a compressed gas storage device or reservoir. 
         [0014]    Optionally for supplying the electronic control means a battery can be provided, which is charged by the pressurized gas motor or, if necessary, in some other way. 
         [0015]    It is particularly advantageous that prior to the final setting down the container no longer has to be stopped at working level in order to e.g. manually remove twist locks. In addition, the crane can bring the container rapidly onto the device, referred to as a lashing platform, for inserting twist lock container safety fittings, because as a result of the pressurized gas spring-like “padded” behaviour of the lashing platform no container damage need be feared. 
         [0016]    It is also possible for several already interconnected containers to be placed in superimposed manner on the device and then a crane can e.g. transport away three empty containers at once and which are interconnected by twist locks. A crane will precisely place on a lower container a top container already equipped with twist locks assisted by lashing platform guides and the semiautomatic twist locks ensure the secure union. 
         [0017]    As a result of the load distribution of the lower frame the ground under the frame is less stressed in the gantry area. There can no longer be a hard impact of the container on e.g. a harbour surface plaster, where the problem might arise of sensitive goods within the container and also the gantry area asphalt being damaged. 
         [0018]    Advantageously the platform is available in a 40″ container-corresponding form and can either receive a 20″ container, 2×20″ container, a 40″ container or, with corresponding overhangs, a 45″ container. Alternatively the set-down plate can be designed in pneumatically or hydraulically telescopable manner for 45″. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Further features and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the following description of a preferred embodiment relative to the attached drawings, wherein show: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1A  side view of the inventive device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  The device of  FIG. 1  in the unloaded state with diagrammatically intimated magazines for twist lock fittings, e.g. in each corner. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  A plan view of the device of  FIG. 1  with eight screwing devices. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  A plan view of the device of  FIG. 1  with eight magazine-equipped screwing devices and in broken line form air bellows. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  A diagrammatic front view of a specially constructed magazine for the inventive device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  A diagrammatic side view of the magazine of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A-C  A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention in a diagrammatic plan view (A), in a diagrammatic side view (B) and in a diagrammatic front view (C). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIGS. 1 and 4  show the individual shock absorbers, air bellows  10  or compressors whereof, other than as shown, large numbers can be present under the platform. Energy is acquired by them during the gentle lowering process for the containers and this is kept in stock in a pressurized gas storage device. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows how air bellows  10  and hydraulic shock absorbers  12  can be provided in combination. 
         [0029]    By means of corresponding removal devices  16  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) provided in the corners and/or sides of the platform adjacent to the storage locations in the container and which grip and reverse compressed air-operated twist locks TL, the latter can be removed from the container in a single operation and then the container can be transported on without the twist locks TL. The remaining twist locks TL in the stacking fitting holders, either in a simple variant removal by personnel (time is available for this because the crane is raising another container elsewhere) or optionally by a corresponding removal device for conveying into a magazine  14  (cf.  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0030]    In hitherto conventional cycles of 30 containers per hour one person can manually place the twist locks TL in a readily available magazine and optionally check the twist locks TL optically for their condition. As opposed to the manual removal of twist locks TL from a container the major advantage is obtained that the actually container need no longer be stopped for a long period during its transportation and in particular does not have to be slowly and visually brought by a crane operator into a position suspended e.g. 1.50 m above the ground and instead it is possible to rapidly move up to a predetermined position, optionally facilitated by mechanical guides  18  and following brief delay resulting from the simultaneous release of all four twist locks TL, the container can be transported on again. 
         [0031]    Obviously in a loading process the device can also be differently used, namely the corresponding twist locks TL can already be present in the stacking fitting holders  16  and on setting down the container automatically lock in the fixing holes (which is the functionality of the twist locks TL, namely that although positioned at right angles to the fixing hole, they turn during the insertion process and then automatically lock in spring-preloaded manner in a locking position). Alternatively twist locks TL can lock in controlled manner in a container. 
         [0032]    Also in this process kinetic energy is again used for hydraulic or pneumatic introduction by means of compressors as working energy into storage means. It is obviously also possible to operate with external energy and a computer control can be provided in order to manage the storage and removal of the twist locks TL, i.e. to optionally demand from a magazine  14  more twist locks TL or to convey excess twist locks TL to such a magazine  14 . 
         [0033]    A special development of such a magazine is illustrated in a diagrammatic front view in  FIG. 5  and a diagrammatic side view in  FIG. 6 . For providing to containers, in the illustrated example the twist locks TL are lined up on elongated, e.g. rod-like elements, which can be moved in the manner of a circulating conveyor belt. As a result of this construction it is possible to keep available a large number of twist locks TL. The elements receiving the twist locks TL is so further rotated when an element has given up all the twist locks TL stored on it to the removal device/screwing device  16 , to make it possible for a further element to deliver the twist locks TL stored thereon to the screwing device  16 . 
         [0034]    Operation with the inventive device is preferably such that the working sequence is so set up that if a magazine  14  has been completely emptied of twist locks TL, subsequently only containers are placed on the device which have been freed from twist locks TL until the magazine  14  has been refilled with twist locks TL. This is followed by an operation during which containers are to be reequipped with twist locks TL. 
         [0035]    Alternatively the device can also be constructed in such a way that the magazines are set up in replaceable manner and e.g. by access from the side of the device an empty magazine  14  can be replaced by a filled magazine  14  or vice versa. Preferably such a replaceable magazine  14  has e.g. pockets for receiving forklift forks. 
         [0036]    It is obviously also possible to juxtapose two lashing platforms in order e.g. with a tandem spreader to serve a gantry crane simultaneously gripping and transporting two containers, or a twin tandem with four containers. Such an implementation of the inventive device for a tandem spreader is shown in a diagrammatic plan view ( FIG. 7A ), a diagrammatic side view ( FIG. 7B ) and a diagrammatic front view ( FIG. 7C . To illustrate the spatial conditions, in addition to the device according to the invention is shown a container C equipped with twist lock container safety fittings TL. 
         [0037]    Each stacking fitting holder  16  comprises a rotary piston and a bushing, which by means of hydraulics or pneumatics with a drive and an exhaust bring the twist locks TL into a laterally fitted magazine  14  with a substantially vertical or horizontal orientation. It is also possible to have a worm-like, space-saving magazine guide. 
         [0038]    It is finally pointed out that during transshipment wave movements e.g. caused by tides, high winds or shipping can cause ship movements making necessary a slight adaptation of the relative horizontal position of the container bridge with respect to the lashing platform. This horizontal movement of the entire lashing platform or at least the platform supporting frame receiving the container C can also be made possible by the working energy stored in the compressors and can be automatically or manually controlled. 
         [0039]    Thus, according to the invention an automatically operated lashing platform can be made available which, in a preferred variant, obtains the energy necessary for releasing and fixing twist locks TL with respect to a container C or for horizontal platform positioning from the energy released on placing a container on the air bellows  10  or hydraulic shock absorbers  12  of the platform. Such a device increases the flexibility of use of lashing platforms and simultaneously increases productivity during transshipment of containers.