EP3608259B1 - Arrangement for positioning and aligning containers to be coupled to one another with devices for positioning and aligning a container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement for positioning and aligning containers to be coupled to one another. Such an arrangement is used in particular when several containers are to be brought into a coupling position in order to connect them to one another. Such a combination of several containers is used to construct a mobile building that can be used, for example, as a mobile hospital, a canteen, a warehouse, a conference room or even a command post. The containers are prepared accordingly for coupling to one another and have, for example, doors, locks or the like, by means of which connections between the individual container modules are established.

US 2004/191038 A1 shows a device for positioning and aligning a container and represents the closest prior art.

A method for creating mobile buildings and a corresponding kit for this are included in the document EP 2 876 223 A1 known. To align and position the containers, base frames are used on which the containers can be arranged and positioned. This known method has the disadvantage that a separate base frame is required for each container. The known process is therefore material and cost-intensive. In addition, the base frames have the size of the containers to be arranged on them and can therefore only be moved with suitable equipment.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a light, compact and transportable arrangement which allows the exact alignment and positioning of containers in the simplest and most cost-effective manner possible.

The task is achieved by the arrangement mentioned at the beginning for the positioning and alignment of containers to be coupled to one another with two opposite ones Devices arranged on the free side surfaces of each container to be positioned are solved, the device comprising a positioning device which is designed to be detachably arranged with a container to be positioned and which is designed to move the container to be positioned relative to the ground, the positioning device being in a positioning position for stationary installation Support element base set up on the ground and a vertical positioning unit arranged horizontally movably on the support element base, the vertical positioning unit comprising an adjusting means set up for vertical position adjustment, which is designed and set up for hanging the container to be positioned.

The device of the arrangement according to the invention has the advantage of being easy to handle, so that it can be handled by just one person. Ideally, the device is handled by two people. Overall, the device is mechanically designed to be as simple as possible and therefore has a high degree of robustness and immunity to interference in field use. In addition, due to the simple mechanical construction, the device is extremely cost-effective.

An expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the adjusting means is designed as a linear guide.

The design of the adjusting means as a linear guide offers the advantage that, despite the relatively simple mechanical construction, precise and exact alignment of the container to be positioned is possible.

A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the adjusting means is designed to be telescopic.

The telescopic design of the adjusting device offers several advantages. On the one hand, the device of the arrangement according to the invention can be stowed away in as little space as possible after use, since the telescopic actuating means requires the least possible space in a retracted position. On the other hand, the telescopic structure of the adjusting device protects it from the ingress of contamination, dust and dirt, so that a high level of reliability is achieved even in field use under harsh environmental conditions.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means is formed from a support column which extends vertically starting from the support element base and an adjusting element which is arranged in a vertically position-adjustable manner relative to this.

The support column according to the invention has the necessary mechanical stability in order to be able to reliably move the containers to be positioned into the desired vertical position. The support column also offers the possibility of compensating for comparatively large height differences. This offers particular advantages in non-flat terrain where a corresponding height offset must be compensated for between the individual containers to be coupled.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the actuating element is designed in the shape of a hollow body and the support column is arranged at least partially surrounding it in such a way that the inner walls of the actuating element come into sliding guide contact with guide surfaces of the support column.

The hollow-body-shaped design of the actuating element according to the invention offers the advantage that, on the one hand, the hollow-body-shaped actuating element at least partially surrounds the support column and so the actuating element also takes on the function of a housing that reliably keeps dirt from the essential mechanical components during rough field use. On the other hand, an extremely compact design is achieved by nesting the support column and control element.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the adjusting means for vertical position adjustment comprises at least one drive means.

The drive means enables a comfortable and easy-to-use adjustment of the vertical position. Mechanical elements, for example threaded rods for mechanical actuation, electric drives and/or pneumatic drive means can preferably be used as drive means.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the drive means has at least one hydraulic cylinder.

The use of a hydraulic cylinder proves to be particularly advantageous because it can be used to lift particularly large loads without any problems. In addition, such hydraulic components are standard components that are available in many versions at a correspondingly low price.

A preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the hanging receptacle is formed by means of connecting means which are designed to releasably connect the adjusting means to load-bearing load-bearing elements of the container to be positioned.

By means of the connecting means, it is possible to connect the positioning device according to the invention simply and quickly to the container to be positioned and to release it again in a simple manner after positioning has taken place. This results in a significant time advantage, particularly in field use, so that the construction of mobile buildings, for example, is significantly accelerated.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the device of the arrangement according to the invention further comprises spacer elements which are designed for detachable arrangement on the load-bearing elements of the container to be positioned and have holding points for receiving the connecting means, which are spaced from the respective side surface when arranged on the container.

The spacing elements according to the invention offer the advantage that the positioning device according to the invention can be arranged at such a distance from the respective side surface of the container to be positioned that it is not absolutely necessary to previously lift the container to be positioned in order to create appropriate ground clearance so that parts the positioning device can be arranged below the container floor. This offers a significant advantage in field use, as the containers with their bases can be arranged flat on the ground without the need for complex positioning work to place them on appropriate support elements. When setting down the containers, it is no longer necessary to position them precisely or to set them down on prepared support elements. Overall, this means that the setting and alignment work can be carried out significantly faster than with previous solutions.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the adjusting means comprises a weighing element, the weighing element having a balance beam set up as a two-armed lever, which is arranged at its pivot point in a releasably pivotable manner on the end of the adjusting element and has holding means at its free ends for receiving the Has connecting means.

By means of the weighing element, it is possible in a particularly simple manner to arrange the positioning device according to the invention on the container in such a way that absolute stability of the positioning device is guaranteed. As a rule, the load distribution within a container, for example in residential or supply modules, cannot be seen from the outside. If a container is lifted in which the center of gravity extending from one container end face to another is not centered with respect to the container end face, significant torques occur that act on the positioning device. Such torques can lead to the entire arrangement of positioning device and container toppling over. Based on the position of the balance element, you can immediately see whether such an imbalance exists or not. If the container is well balanced and arranged on the positioning device according to the invention, the scale usually assumes a horizontal orientation and the container to be positioned can be raised in the vertical direction without any problems. If there is an off-center load distribution in the container, the weighing element will be strongly deflected after being connected to the container to be positioned, thus clearly pointing out this uneven distribution to the fitter.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the pivot point of the balance beam is formed by a through hole, through which the balance beam is pivotally arranged at the end of the actuating element by means of a bolt, the balance beam comprising a plurality of through holes extending across its width, so that the pivot point of the balance beam corresponds to the The center of gravity of the container is adjustable.

The through holes extending across the width of the balance beam offer the advantage that in the case of a non-equilateral load distribution, the pivot point of the balance beam can be optimally adjusted according to the center of gravity or the center of gravity axis between the container end faces. In this way it is ensured that the container is connected to the positioning device according to the invention in a balanced configuration and the alignment of the container to be positioned can always be carried out in a way that prevents it from tipping over.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the balance beam is designed to be locked in a rotationally fixed manner on the adjusting means by means of at least one locking element.

The at least one locking element offers the advantage that the balance beam can be locked on the adjusting means, so that after the container's balance has been determined once, the balance beam is not set into undesirable vibrations during the further positioning and alignment process. In this way, precise positioning of the container is guaranteed at all times, even at higher adjustment speeds and/or the effects of wind loads.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the positioning device comprises at least two wheel elements which are set up to move the positioning device relative to the ground if it is not in the positioning position.

By means of the wheel elements, it is possible to move the positioning device to the container to be positioned without any great effort, since the positioning device can be rolled over the ground and brought into position on the respective side surface of the container to be positioned.

A further expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the positioning device is designed to be dismantled into individual parts.

The fact that the positioning device according to the invention can be dismantled into individual parts offers the advantage that it can be stowed away as compactly as possible when not in use.

Further preferred and/or expedient features and refinements of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Fig.1

eine perspektivische Ansicht zweier miteinander zu koppelnder Container, wobei an dem zu positionierenden Container jeweils stirnseitig eine der Vorrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Anordnung angeordnet ist,

Fig.2

eine Seitenansicht der in Figur 1 gezeigten Anordnung mit Blickrichtung auf die Containerstirnseite,

Fig. 3

die in Figur 1 gezeigte Anordnung aus Containern und Vorrichtungen, wobei der zu positionierende Container sich in einer auf dem Untergrund abgesetzten Position befindet,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der Fig. 1 mit Blickrichtung auf eine Containerseitenfläche,

Fig.5

eine Seitenansicht mit Blickrichtung auf die Containerstirnseite vor dem Koppeln beider Container

und Fig.6

eine Seitenansicht mit Blickrichtung auf die Containerstirnseite nach erfolgter Kopplung.

Shown in the drawing

Fig.1

a perspective view of two containers to be coupled together, one of the devices of the arrangement according to the invention being arranged on the front side of the container to be positioned,

Fig.2

a side view of the in Figure 1 arrangement shown looking towards the front of the container,

Fig. 3

in the Figure 1 shown arrangement of containers and devices, whereby the container to be positioned is in a position placed on the ground,

Fig. 4

a side view of the Fig. 1 looking towards a container side surface,

Fig.5

a side view looking towards the front of the container before the two containers are coupled

and Fig.6

a side view looking towards the front of the container after coupling.

The device of the arrangement according to the invention is designed and set up for positioning and aligning containers 10. The structural design and functionality of the device are described in more detail below using the figures.

In Fig. 1 Two of the containers 10 are shown that are to be coupled to one another. Of course, the present device is not limited to coupling containers 10 alone, but can also be used for other positioning purposes. In Fig. 1 Positioning devices 11 are shown, which are each designed to move the container 10 to be positioned relative to the ground.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the in Fig. 1 shown arrangement with a view towards the container end faces 12. The positioning device 11 is detachably arranged on the container 10 to be positioned. In the drawings, the positioning device 11 is shown in a positioning position, that is, connected to the container 10 to be positioned and arranged in a stationary manner on the ground by means of its support element base 13. In this way, the support element base 13 forms a type of base frame which is always arranged in a stationary and therefore unchangeable position on the ground when the load is picked up, for example by lifting the container 10. The positioning device 11 further comprises a vertical positioning unit 14, which is arranged on the support element base 13 so that it can be moved horizontally. Horizontally movable here means that the vertical positioning unit 14 is set up to be movable in the X and/or Y direction, i.e. practically in a plane parallel to the ground.

The vertical positioning unit 14 further comprises an adjusting means 15, which on the one hand is set up for vertical position adjustment and on the other hand is designed to hang the container 10 to be positioned. The adjusting means 15 is thus aligned so that it can move in the Z direction. As shown in the drawing, the adjusting means 15 is preferably designed as a linear guide, in particular as a linear guide that can be moved in the Z direction. More preferably, the adjusting means 15 - as shown in the drawing - is designed to be telescopic and thus forms a compact design.

The vertical positioning unit, which is arranged to be horizontally movable on the support element base 13, together with the adjusting means 15, which is set up for vertical position adjustment, enables the container 10 to be positioned in each of the three spatial directions. Alternatively, it is possible, instead of setting up the support element base 13 in a stationary manner on the ground, to provide a horizontal adjustment device - not shown in the drawing - with which the support element base 13 can be moved horizontally relative to the ground. Such an embodiment also enables free movement in all of the three spatial directions.

As in Fig. 2 , 5 and 6 As can be seen, the adjusting means 15 is preferably formed from a support column 16 and an adjusting element 17 arranged in a vertical position-adjustable manner relative to this support column 16. Starting from the support element base 13, the support column 16 extends in the vertical direction, that is, in the Z direction.

More preferably, the adjusting element 17 is designed in the shape of a hollow body, for example - as shown in the drawing - in the form of a cuboid open on one side. However, the hollow body shape of the actuating element 17 is not limited to the aforementioned shape, but can also have, for example, a cylindrical hollow body or a hollow body of any other cross-sectional geometry. In any case, the adjusting element 17 is designed in such a way that it at least partially surrounds the support column 16 and is arranged on it in such a way that the inner walls 18 of the adjusting element 17 come into sliding guide contact with the guide surfaces 19 of the support column 16. In other words, the actuating element 17 is mounted on the support column 16 by means of a sliding guide. This type of storage is particularly cost-effective and at the same time robust against external influences. Preferably, sliding coatings, for example in the form of PTFE coatings, are arranged on the guide surfaces 19 and/or the inner walls 18 - not shown in the drawing. Such polytetrafluoroethylene coverings with a correspondingly low coefficient of friction can alternatively be replaced by other materials with a comparably low coefficient of friction.

The adjusting means 15 for vertical position adjustment includes at least one drive means - not shown in the drawing. The drive means can be designed mechanically, for example by driven threaded rods, electrically and/or pneumatically. The drive means preferably has at least one hydraulic cylinder - not shown in the drawing. This makes it possible to move and position containers with high loads in the vertical direction.

The hanging holder is preferably formed by means of connecting means 20, which are designed to releasably connect the adjusting means 15 or the adjusting element 17 to load-bearing load-bearing elements 21 of the container 10 to be positioned. The connecting means are preferably designed as retaining chains or steel cables, each of which has corresponding eyelets at the ends, by means of which they can be releasably arranged on the load-bearing elements 21 of the container 10 to be positioned.

As in Fig. 3 shown, the device further comprises spacer elements 22, which are designed to be detachably arranged on the load-bearing elements 21 of the container 10 to be positioned. The spacer elements 22 preferably have holding points 23, for example in the form of through holes, and are set up in such a way that they are in the state arranged on the container 10 respective side surface 24 of the container are spaced apart. In other words, the spacer elements 22 serve as a kind of extension in order to advance the load-bearing elements 21 a certain distance from the respective side surface 24 of the container 10, so that the positioning device 11 according to the invention can be positioned at such a distance from the container 10 that it is not necessary is to arrange parts of the positioning device 11 below the container 10.

More preferably, the adjusting means 15 comprises a weighing element 25. The weighing element 25 is designed as a weighing beam 26 in the form of a two-armed lever. The pivot point 27 of the balance beam is arranged on the end of the adjusting element 17 in a detachable, pivotable manner. At each of the free ends 28 of the balance beam 26 there are holding means 29 for receiving the connecting means 20. More preferably, the free ends 28 of the balance beam 26 each have a plurality of holding means 29, so that the connecting means 20 can each be connected to it at different positions. Depending on the hanging position of the respective connecting means 20 with one of the holding means 29, the effective length of the respective lever arm can be adjusted and the container 10 can thus be optimally balanced.

As can be seen in the drawing, the pivot point 27 of the balance beam 26 is formed by a through hole. A bolt 30 is guided through this through hole in the balance beam 26, by means of which the balance beam 26 is pivotably arranged on the adjusting element 17. In addition, the balance beam 26 has several through holes 31 extending across its width, so that the pivot point 27 of the balance beam 26 is adjustable according to the center of gravity of the container. In other words, the balance beam 26 serves as a measuring device, which can be used to immediately see whether the weight distribution of the container 10 to be positioned exerts an equal force on both free ends 28 or whether these two forces are in imbalance. If the balance beam 26 is not in a horizontal position, the pivot point 27 can be selected by selecting a different through hole 31 so that the balance beam 26 is in equilibrium. In this way, the container 10 to be positioned can be optimally balanced and the occurrence of an undesirable tilting moment on the positioning device 11 according to the invention can be reliably avoided.

More preferably, the connecting means 20 are also arranged on the respective holding means 29 by means of holding bolts, the bolt 30 having a larger diameter than the holding bolts. Due to the different diameter of the bolt 30 and the retaining bolts, the balance beam 26 can be finely adjusted using the retaining bolts. For example, the diameter of the retaining bolts is half the diameter of the bolt 30, so that by moving the connecting means 20 from one retaining means 29 to an adjacent retaining means 29, the effective lever arm length is shortened or lengthened by half the distance, which is half the distance between two adjacent ones Through holes 31 corresponds.

Preferably, at least one locking element - not shown in the drawing - is provided on a balance beam 26, which is designed to lock the balance beam 26 on the adjusting means 15 or the adjusting element 17 in a rotationally fixed manner. In this way it is achieved that the balanced balance beam 26 remains in the once determined optimal load-carrying position even when the container 10 to be positioned is moved into the desired end position by means of the positioning device 11 according to the invention.

More preferably, the positioning device 11 comprises at least two wheel elements 32, which are set up to move the positioning device 11 relative to the ground if it is not in the positioning position. As soon as load acts on the positioning device 11 according to the invention by lifting the container 11 to be positioned against the Z direction, the wheel elements 32 are in principle without function, since the support element base 13 is arranged stationary to the ground under this application of force. If no container 10 to be positioned is connected to the positioning device 11 according to the invention via the connecting means 12 mentioned, the support element base 13 can be lifted off the ground by tilting the entire positioning device about the axis of rotation of the wheel elements 32 and the entire positioning device 11 can be moved in a rolling manner by means of the wheel elements 32. In this way, the positioning device according to the invention can be directed to the desired location in a particularly simple and energy-saving manner.

More preferably, the positioning device 11 according to the invention is designed to be dismantled into individual parts, thus forming a type of kit that can be easily assembled on site or when used in the field.

The process of a coupling will be briefly illustrated below using the two containers 10 shown in the figures as an example.

Like in the Fig. 3 As can be seen, the containers 10 to be coupled are placed as close to one another as possible. The devices are then arranged on the containers on the two container end faces 12. As in Fig. 3 As can be seen, the positioning devices 11 according to the invention are connected to the containers on each of the container end faces 12 by means of the connecting means 20. Optional - and as in the Fig. 3 shown - the connecting means 20 are not connected directly to the load-bearing elements 21, but are preferably inserted between the spacer elements 22 mentioned, so that it is not necessary for parts of the positioning device to be arranged below the container 10 to be positioned.

As described above, the load distribution of the container 10 to be positioned can be determined by means of the weighing element 25, so that it can be optimally aligned while avoiding a tilting moment acting on the positioning device 11 according to the invention. After determining the optimal pivot point 27 - as in the Fig. 1 can be seen - a lifting of the container 10 to be positioned by moving by means of the vertical positioning unit 14, in that the adjusting element 17 is moved vertically in the Z direction relative to the support column 16. In this way, the container 10 to be positioned is brought to the height level of the container 10 that has already been parked. This process is also from the Fig. 5 visible. Once the desired height level of the container 10 to be positioned has been reached, it is, as in the Fig. 6 shown, brought into the desired end position by adjusting its horizontal position, so that the container 10 is then coupled, for example by directly connecting the load-bearing elements 21 of both containers 10 to one another. If both containers 10 are mechanically securely connected to one another, the positioning device according to the invention is brought into a load-free position and can then be detached from the container 10 that was originally to be positioned.

Claims (14)

1. Arrangement for positioning and aligning containers (10) to be coupled to one another, the arrangement having two apparatuses arranged on opposite free side faces (12, 24) of each container (10) to be positioned, the apparatuses each comprising

   comprises a positioning apparatus (11) detachably arranged with a container (10) to be positioned, which is adapted to move the container (10) to be positioned relative to the ground, wherein

   the positioning apparatus (11) comprises a support element base (13) arranged in a positioning position for stationary placement on the ground, and

   a vertical positioning unit (14) horizontally movably arranged on the support element base (13), wherein

   the vertical positioning unit (14) comprises an adjusting means (15) which is adapted for vertical hanging reception of the container (10) to be positioned.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the adjusting means (15) is arranged as a linear guide.
3. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the adjusting means (15) is telescopic.
4. Arrangement according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the adjusting means (15) is formed from a support pillar (16) extending vertically from the support element base (13) and an adjusting element (17) arranged so as to be vertically position-adjustable relative to the latter.
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the adjusting element (17) is arranged in the shape of a hollow body and the supporting pillar(16) is arranged on the latter so as to engage at least partially around in such a way that the inner walls (18) of the adjusting element (17) come into sliding guide contact with guide surfaces (19) of the supporting column (16).
6. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the actuating means (15) for vertical position adjustment comprises at least one drive means.
7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the drive means comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder.
8. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the hanging reception is formed by means of connecting means (20) which are adapted to detachably connect the adjusting means (15) to load-bearing load-bearing elements (21) of the container (10) to be positioned.
9. Arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising spacer elements (22) which are arranged for detachable arrangement on the load-bearing elements (21) of the container (10) to be positioned and have retaining points (23) for receiving the connecting means (20) which, in the state arranged on the container, are spaced apart from its respective side surface (12, 24).
10. Arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the adjusting means (15) comprises a balance element (25), the balance element (25) having a balance beam (26) which is arranged as a two-armed lever and is arranged with its centre of rotation (27) releasably pivotably at the end on the adjusting element (17) and in each case has at its free ends (28) retaining means (29) for receiving the connecting means (20).
11. Arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the centre of rotation (27) of the balance beam (26) is formed by a through bore (31), through which the balance beam (26) is arranged on the end of the adjusting element (17) so as to be pivotable by means of a bolt (30), wherein the balance beam (26) comprises a plurality of through bores (31) extending over its width, so that the centre of rotation (27) of the balance beam (26) is arranged to be adjustable in accordance with the centre of gravity of the container (10).
12. Arrangement according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the balance beam (26) is arranged to be lockable in a rotationally fixed manner on the adjusting means (15) by means of at least one locking element.
13. Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the positioning apparatus (11) comprises at least two wheel elements (32) arranged to move the positioning apparatus (11) relative to the ground when the latter is not in the positioning position.
14. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the positioning apparatus (11) is designed to be dismountable into individual parts.

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