Patent GB-1267752-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to cranes for elevationally moving generally rectangular loads
IPC: B65G1/04
Filed: 1969-03-28
Abstract: 1,267,752. Storage systems; stacker cranes. KAISER INDUSTRIES CORP. 28 March, 1969 [29 March, 1968; 3 March, 1969], No. 16516/69 Headings B8E and B8H A container handling system for a shipping terminal comprises a storage housing 26 with stacker cranes 36, 38 and communication means including a computer for controlling operations. Containers 60 are unloaded from a ship 56 by dockside cranes 40, 42 served by conveyer units 50 on tracks 46, 48 forming closed loops on the dock and extending through aisles 108, 110 of the housing 26. The crane 36 (crane 38 is similar) has a bridge 120 extending over and movable along the aisle 108 on upper wheels 122 riding on upper tracks 112. A pair of side frames 124 and a transverse frame 126 project downwards from the bridge 120 and mount horizontal stabilizing wheels 128 riding on guide-plates 116. A cage comprising a cab 236 with C-brackets 154 having rollers 174 riding in guides 176 provided on the frame 126 can be aligned vertically and horizontally with a selected compartment 96 in the housing 26. A carriage 184 is mounted within the C-brackets 154 and has an upper frame 185 on rollers 186 running on rails 156 attached to the feet of the brackets 154 with a lower frame 187 suspended therefrom on lift rams 195, 196. The lower frame 187 includes clamp mechanisms 200 with hooks 210 to engage end sockets 66 of a container 60. In operation the carriage 184 is brought over a container 60 on a conveyer unit 50 at an interchange station (e.g. 269, Fig. 2, not shown) and the container 96 is attached to the lower frame 187 by the clamps 200. The lower frame 187 is then raised by the rams 195, 196. The crane 36 is then operated to bring the rails 156 into line with rails 104 in a selected compartment 96 whereupon the frame 184 is extended from the cage into the compartment 96, its rollers running on the rails 156, 104 (Fig. 7). When the container 60 is inside the compartment 96 the rams 195, 196 are extended to deposit it on the floor 100 and the carriage 184 is withdrawn. Transferring a container 60 from the storage housing 26 to the ship 56 is the reverse of the above. The system may operate automatically or semi-automatically under the control of an operator in the cab 236 or a control centre (30), Fig. 12 (not shown). Fig. 15 (not shown), illustrates a block diagram of computer means and the control circuits of the system involving code readers and sensors and monitoring T.V. cameras, e.g. 410.  Containers 60 may also be received from and delivered to lorries, such as 252, by means of a conveyer 34, or. by railway (57), Fig. 2 (not shown). In this case a container 60 is collected at an interchange station 55 by attaching a spreader which is then connected to a trolley (262) running on the conveyer 34 and delivered to an interchange station (269) and transferred by a further conveyer (270) to a position within reach of the crane 38. There may be a one-to-one correspondence between the container cells on the ship 56 and the compartments 96 in the storage housing 26. Loading and unloading may also proceed simultaneously. A break-bulk shed 28 is located on the dock adjacent to the storage housing 26 and is served by a trolley 263 on the conveyer 34.