GB2104875A - Container handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

Handling equipment suitable for use at small ISO container depots and remote locations comprises devices to be attached to a container by twist locks or the like engaging its ISO castings. Each device comprises a tubular housing 10 carrying the twist locks or the like 11, 13, a leg 17 slidable within the housing, means 16 to lock the leg in any of a number of positions relative to the housing, and brackets on the housing and leg providing facing abutments for a jack, the bracket on the leg being adjustable along the leg. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container handling device Modern methods of goods transport, whether by road, rail or water, utilise containers into which the goods are loaded for conveyance from a supplier to a purchaser, the containers being in the nature of vehicle bodies of standard sizes and being transferable as necessary in a journey from one vehicle to another, e.g. from a road vehicle to a rail vehicle.

It has been the practice in transport systems utilising such containers to effect transfer between vehicles at extensive terminals where it is economic to use heavy duty gantry cranes or the like and heavy duty fork lift trucks for handling the containers. Also, in order to free the vehicles for further use whilst the containers are being filled or emptied, or are awaiting transfer to a particular vehicle, the containers have had built into their structure retractable legs.

This invention provides handling apparatus which enables standard containers not provided with built-in legs to be loaded on to or unloaded from a vehicle or to be moved without the use of heavy duty gantry cranes or the like expensive handling equipment.

The handling apparatus of this invention is therefore suitable for use at small terminals, where it would be uneconomic to have heavy duty gantry cranes or heavy duty fork lift trucks, or at any location having a relatively small turnover of containers or at any site where other forms of handling equipment are not available.

According to this invention, handling apparatus comprises a device releasably securable to a container by upper and lower twist locks engaging ISO castings of the container or the like fittings, the device comprising a tubular housing carrying the twist locks or other projections for engaging ISO castings of a container, a leg slidably accommodated in the housing, releasable locking means for securing the leg to the housing in positions corresponding to a series of different extents of projection of the leg from the housing, .

and aligned brackets mounted externally on the housing and on the leg respectively providing facing abutments for a jack, the bracket on the leg being adjustable in position along the leg.

The number of devices used will be such as to provide adequate support for the container, and conveniently will be four in number, one for each corner of the container. The devices have the advantages of constructional simplicity and of the capability of being telescoped using ordinary vehicle jacks, e.g. bottle jacks.

According to one arrangement, the locking means comprises a series of lengthwise spaced holes in the leg for engagement by a retractable plunger carried by the housing, and the leg bracket is adjustably mounted on the leg by engaging the holes.

The accompanying sketches illustrate by way of example some constructions of device of this invention and their use in removing a standard container from a road vehicle and lowering the container to the ground.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a construction of handling device, Fig. 2 shows part of the device with details of a form of bracket for attachment to the leg, Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate the device in use, Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a second handling device with auxiliary equipment, Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the device of Fig.

6 with other auxiliary equipment, Figs. 8 to 10 disclose a further form of the jacking abutments by which the telescopic device is extended and contracted, Fig. 11 illustrates a modification of the means by which the device is engaged with an ISO casting at the top of a container, and Fig. 1 2 shows a safety feature associated with a spring-loaded locking peg for locking the telescopic device in an adjusted position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device is telescopic and comprises a square-section housing 10 of a length somewhat greater than the height of standard containers, the housing having a lateral flange 12 carrying near its lower end a twist lock clamp 13, the head 1 3a of which co-operates with the recess of a standard ISO casting on a container. A bracket 1 5 having a downwardly-facing abutment face 1 5a is welded to the housing 10 near its lower end, where there is also a hole for a retractable, spring-loaded locking peg 1 6 which can be withdrawn against the spring load by handle 1 6a.

An upper twist lock 11 is mounted on an overhung bracket, 14a, projecting laterally from a saddle 14 freely slidable on the housing 10 which has at its upper end a pivoted bail 1 Oa so that if desired the device can be lifted by a light crane, a free-standing swing jib crane, the gibbet arm of a fork lift truck, or winch on a free-standing tripod.

If desired there may be provided means whereby the upper twist lock 11 can be engaged and disengaged from ground level, rather than by an operative standing on the container.

The device also includes a square-section leg 1 7 which is freely slidable in the housing 10, has a foot 1 7a to contact the ground and has in it a series of lengthwise-spaced holes 1 8 to be engaged by the locking peg 16, thereby to lock the leg in a selected position.

The leg 17 is fitted with a bracket 19 to support and provide an abutment for a jack (conveniently a vehicle jack or a bottle jack) when raising or lowering a container.

The bracket 19 is in two parts (Fig. 2). One part has side plates 1 9a, 1 9b embracing the leg 17 and a back plate 1 9c fitted with a peg 1 9d to engage one of the holes 1 8 to locate the bracket in position along the leg 1 7. At their ends remote from the back plate 1 9c, the side plates 1 9a, 1 9b have sockets 1 9e for receiving a locking peg 20 by which the two bracket parts are joined.

The second part of the bracket 1 9 has side plates 1 9joined by a tubular socket 1 9g, which when the bracket parts are connected is aligned with sockets 1 9e and also receives peg 20. The second part also has an abutment bar 1 9h and a pivot pin 1 9jfor a platform 19k.

Assuming that a container 21 is on a vehicle 22, (Fig. 3), the following is an unloading and lowering sequence.

The container 21 first has a device as above described firmly secured to each of its four corners. This is effected for each device by the top twist lock 11 being downwardly engaged with a top ISO casting whilst the device is crane or hoist supported; the crane is operated to allow the lower twist lock 13 to engage and be clamped to the bottom ISO casting. The leg 17 is allowed by retracting the peg 16 to fall to bring the foot 1 7a into ground contact.

Each of the brackets 1 9 is now mounted on the respective leg 1 7 by presenting the one part with its side plates 1 9a, 1 9b embracing the leg and the peg 1 9d in the uppermost visible hole 18, attaching the second part to the one part by engaging peg 20 in the sockets 1 9e, 1 9g and lowering the platform 1 9k to face the abutment face 1 spa in which position the platform prevents relative clockwise swinging of the bracket parts (as viewed in Fig. 2). The bar 1 9h limits anticlockwise swinging of the second part relatively to the one part. With the parts so assembled the peg 1 9d cannot be withdrawn from a hole 1 8.

Jacks 23, e.g. bottle jacks as shown in Fig. 4, which are contracted are now placed on the platforms 1 9k at one end of the container 11, and the jacks are then extended into contact with brackets 1 5 and to raise that end from the vehicle 22 a distance equal to the spacing of holes 18.

The lockihg pins 1 6 are now inserted so securing the legs to the housings. The operation is repeated at the opposite end of the container which is now completely clear of the vehicle which may be driven away.

The container 11 may now be lowered step by step by (a) retracting the pins 16, (b) contracting the jacks until the pins 1 6 can enter the next lower holes 18 in the legs 17, (c) reinserting the pins 1 6 to lock the legs to the housings, (d) removing the jacks 20, (e) lowering the brackets 19 one step, (f) re-extending the jacks and repeating these operations until, after removal of the brackets 19, the jacks may be placed on the ground for the final lowering operation.

Fig. 5 shows how the bracket 1 9 can be lowered or raised without separating its parts. The platform 19k is swung outwards so allowing the bracket to be tilted sufficiently to allow peg 1 9g to be disengaged from the hole 1 8. The bracket may then be moved lengthwise of the leg 1 7, the peg engaged in a lower hole and the platform 1 9k swung down to lock the bracket 1 9 in its new position.

In some circumstances, a container may be left for a considerable time with the raising and lowering devices attached and the legs 1 7 extended. In these circumstances, security covers may be secured to the saddle 14 and to the leg 1 7 and housing 10 completely to cover the top twist lock 11 and the lower twist lock 13 and peg 1 6 with its handle 1 6a respectively. In this way, not only are the components protected against damage, e.g. by weather, but also their inadvertent operation is prevented.

The devices may of course be used for handling other large objects of a kind like standard containers provided these have suitable mounting features to receive the twist locks 11, 1 3.

In Fig. 6, the device is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 5, and the same references are used to indicate like parts.

In this construction, the upper twist lock 11 is mounted on an overhung bracket 30 secured to the upper end of the housing 1 0. The twist lock 11 is operated from below by a handle 31 on a rotary shafting 32 extending along the housing and operating a linkage 33 on the bracket 30.

Also shown is auxiliary equipment for assisting handling of the device itself. This equipment comprises a post 34 with a crane eye 35 at its top, a tongue 36 to engage a socket 37 on the housing 10 and a peg 38 to engage an apertured lug 39 at the bottom of the housing. With the peg 38 in lug 39 and the tongue 36 in socket 37, the device can be raised on a manually-operated, wheel crane 40.

The post 34 also has perforated lugs 41 to be engaged by pegs 42 on a trolley 43 so that the post and device can be manually moved between points of use or storage.

In Fig. 7, the device is the same as in Fig. 6 and has auxiliary equipment allowing it to be moved by a fork lift truck. In this case, a post 50 with a tongue 51 to engage socket 37 and a peg 52 to engage the apertured lug 39 has part way along its sockets 54 to be engaged by the prongs of a lifting fork.

With the post 50 fitted to the device, the assembly can be picked up and moved by a fork lift truck.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 10, the bracket 19 as before is in two parts of which part 1 9A has side plates 65 to embrace the leg 1 7 of the telescopic device. Each plate 65 has an inclined slot 66 and one or each plate has pivoted to it a hook latch 67 urged by a spring 68 to overlie the slot 66.

The second part 1 9B in use lies between the plates 65 and is pivoted to the part 1 9A by engaging the ends of a circular bar 69 in the slots 66. The bar 69 is rigid with the body of the part 1 9B which has a front wall 70 with a projecting peg 71 to engage the holes 1 8 in the leg 17.

In use the bracket 19 is fitted to the leg by engaging the ends of bar 69 in slots 66 and allowing the latch(es) 67 to lock the bar 69 in the slots 66. To move the bracket lengthwise of the leg 17, the part 1 9B is swung anti-clockwise (as seen in Fig. 10) about the bar 69 to clear the peg 71 from the leg. The whole bracket may now be slid along the leg using handle 72. When the bracket reaches the desired position, the part 1 9B is swung clockwise to engage the peg 71 in a hole 18.

The form of bracket 19 just described is advantageous in that it can be lighter in weight, yet as robust as the bracket of Figs. 2 to 5.

Also shown in Figs. 8 to 10 is a further feature of improvement. The bracket 15 is provided with a half-round location feature 73 to be engaged by a corresponding groove 74 on the head of the jack 23. A corresponding groove 75 is formed in the base of the jack and this groove in use engages over the circular bar 69.

This arrangement ensures that the jack 23 is maintained parallel to the leg 17 and is not damaged by having lateral loads applied to it.

Also shown in Fig. 2 is a form of loadspreading foot 76 which can be attached to the bottom of leg 17 by a pin 77. This foot is provided with a half-round bar 78 extending across a hole 79. When the telescopic device is completely collapsed and raising of a load is to be effected, the jack 23 is first positioned on the bar 78 which takes the place of the bar 69 of bracket 1 9.

In Fig. 11, instead of having a sliding saddle 14 with a top twist lock 11 as in Fig. 1, the device has a simple peg 80 projecting downwards from a flange of a bracket 81 having a mounting plate 81a which can be bolted in a number of positions to a face plate 82 fixed to the top of the housing 10, the face plate 82 having in it corresponding sets of bolt holes 83.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a simple safety mechanism which prevents the spring-loaded pin 16 being withdrawn inadvertently from its position (shown) locking the leg 1 7 to the housing 10 and which also holds the pin either fully in or fully out.

The pin 16 is retracted by handle 1 6a and the handle is held in the locked position by a latch 95 pivoted on the housing 10, the latch 95 having a stop 95a lying in the path of movement of the handle 16a. The stop 95a has a tapered end which enters a hole in plate 96. To release the pin 16, the latch 95 must be raised and the handle 1 6a swung to a position on the opposite side of stop 95a. The pin 16 may be thus held in the released position by lowering the latch 95. The pin 1 6 can be rendered operative again merely by raising the latch 95 to allow the pin to be urged by its spring into the illustrated position.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A container handling device releasably securable to a container by upper and lower twist locks engaging ISO castings of the container or the like fittings, the device comprising a tubular housing carrying the twist locks or other projections for engaging ISO castings of a container, a leg slidably accommodated in the housing, releasable locking means for securing the leg to the housing in positions corresponding to a series of different extents of projection of the leg from the housing, and aligned brackets mounted externally on the housing and on the leg respectively providing facing abutments for a jack, the bracket on the leg being adjustable in position along the leg.

2. A container handling device according to claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises a series of lengthwise spaced holes in the leg for engagement by a retractable plunger carried by the housing, and the leg bracket is adjustably mounted on the leg by engaging the holes.

3. A container handling device according to claim 2, wherein the bracket to be mounted on the leg is in separable parts, one of which carries a peg to engage holes in the leg, the parts being presentable to the leg from opposite sides and being lockable together to encircle the leg and retain the peg in a hole.

4. A container handling device according to claim 3, wherein a second of the separable parts has a pair of stops which, with the peg engaged in a hole in the leg, prevent tilting of the bracket for retraction of the peg, one of the stops being pivoted on the second part to free the bracket for peg-retracting tilt.

5. A container handling device according to claim 4, wherein the pivoted stop when in an antitilt position provides one abutment for the jack.

6. A container handling device according to claim 3, wherein the separable parts are connectable by a spring-loaded latch which holds a bar on the one part in slots in the second part, which bar also provides for pivoting of the one part to retract the peg and further acts as an abutment for the jack such that jack applied loads urge the one part to retain the peg in a hole.

7. A container handling device according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the abutments comprise half-round location features and the jack has complementary location grooves, whereby in use the jack is correctly positioned relatively to the leg.

8. A container handling device according to claim 7, wherein the leg has pivoted on it a loadspreding foot having in it an aperture across which extends a half-round location bar for engagement by a complementary groove in the jack.

9. A container handling device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing has on its upper end a freely sliding saddle carrying an upper twist lock.

10. A container handling device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing has a face plate to which can be bolted in a number of positions a mounting plate carrying an upper projecting element for engaging an upper ISO casting of a container.

11. A container handling device according to any of claims 1 to 10, in combination with equipment whereby handling of the device is assisted, the equipment including a post attachable to the housing and having features permitting for engagement by a wheeled trolley, or by a crane hook, or by a fork lift vehicle.

12. A container handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A container handling device according to claim 12 as modified in accordance with Fig. 6 or Fig.7 or Fig. 11.

14. A container handling device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.