Patent GB-1214618-A (GB)
Title: Container handling installation
IPC: B66F9/07
Filed: 1969-02-21
Abstract: 1,214,618. Container traffic handling installation; roller conveyers; spreaders; mobile hoists. FRIED. KRUPP G.m.b.H. 21 Feb., 1969 [22 Feb., 1968], No. 9552/69. Headings B8A, B8H and B8Q. An installation for handling containers between a ship and a storage installation which may be computer controlled throughout comprises a crane 3 for unloading a ship 2, roller conveyers 8, 9, 13, 14 for transporting the containers 10 to a storage area 17, 18, Fig. 1, or to a warehouse 43, Fig. 2, where they are handled by mobile hoists which extend over a railway 41 or road at the far end of the storage space in the case of a storage area, Fig. 1, while with the warehouse 43, Fig. 2, road and rail vehicles can pass under it between pillars 56. It may be arranged that loading by conveyers 14, 9 occurs simultaneously with unloading by conveyers 8, 13, the crab of the crane 3 returning with a container for loading after each unloading movement. The roller conveyers 8, 9 which are reversibly driven are at different heights so that their respective exit conveyers 13, 14 can pass one below the other. In the area of transfer between conveyers 8, 13 and 9, 14 respectively sets of rollers are provided at right angles to each other and one set is raisable relative to the other so that the direction of movement of a container can be changed. Alternatively the rollers may be pivoted between positions at right angles. The mobile hoists used in the storage areas 17, 18, Fig. 1, comprise box girders 22 running on rails 21 of girders 20 supported by columns 19, Fig. 5, and a beam 31 carrying a spreader 30 displaceable vertically by rollers 32 in a box-girder frame 23 supported by wheels 25, 27 to run on rails 26, 28 of the girders 22. The beam 31 is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinder devices 33 acting through pulleys and chains 35, 36. The mounting of the beam 31 prevents swinging so that rapid acceleration is possible. Between the warehouses 43, Fig. 2, the mobile hoists, Figs. 9, 10, comprise upper traverses 49 running on rails 46 on the roofs and lower traverses 52 supported by guide rollers 53 on rails 54 at ground level connected by box-frame members 51 having vertical rails 59. A crab comprising head members 60 and a box-girder 61 is raised and lowered by hoists 74 through chains 75 with guide rollers of the head members running on the rails 59. The spreader used with the hoist of Figs. 9, 10, comprises an upper portion 65 suspended by a linkage 66 and hydraulic power devices 67 from brackets 64 of the head members 60 and a lower portion 70 suspended by rollers 71 on rails 72 displaceable in a longitudinal direction on the upper portion 65. The portion 70 is guided by levers 79 into engagement with the container and is then raised by the devices until extensions 69 engage recesses 68 to rigidly connect the portions 65, 70 to prevent swinging during combined movement. The spreader can now be raised to opposite a compartment 45 in the warehouse in which position, after moving the guide levers 79 to a released position, the portion 70 is driven on to rails 73 in the compartment after if necessary displacing the rails 72 of the spreader to close the gap between the rails 72, 73. When in the compartment 45 the container is lowered by means not shown on to cross members 80 after which the portion 70 is withdrawn and recoupled to the portion 65.