WO2013014620A1

WO2013014620A1 - A crane

Info

Publication number: WO2013014620A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/053785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donovan Mark Dryden DYMOND
Original assignee: Econocrane (Proprietary) Limited
Priority date: 2011-07-27
Filing date: 2012-07-25
Publication date: 2013-01-31

Abstract

A crane including first and second top support members each including at least two container connecting formations so that the first and second top support members are connectable to top comers of a shipping container so that when they are connected to the top of the shipping container they each extend across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrude beyond the width of the shipping container. The support members further each including a connecting formation so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the support members.

Description

A CRANE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a crane, particularly to a removable externally mounted crane for mounting onto shipping containers.

Standard shipping containers of the type used for road, rail and sea freight operations are often deployed to work sites and storage facilities where they are used for storage of goods and/or as field workshops and/or as personnel accommodation. Such containers are of relatively rigid construction and typically include in their structures rigid corner fixtures used for lifting the containers and fixing the containers in place.

In many situations small to medium loads are lifted and lowered in the vicinity of a container for the purposes of loading and unloading vehicles, general handling operations and manipulation of equipment for the purposes of maintenance or assembly or fabrication etc.

The present invention provides a crane that is removably externally mounted to a shipping container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a crane including a first top support member including at least two container connecting formations so that the first top support member is connectable to two top corners of a shipping container so that when the first top support member is connected to the top of the shipping container it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container, the first top support member further including a connecting formation so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the first top support member.

The crane may further include a second top support member including at feast two container connecting formations so that the second top support member is connectable to two top corners of a shipping container so that when the second top support member is connected to the top of the shipping container it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container, the second top support member further including a connecting formation so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the second top support member.

Preferably, the crane includes a crawl beam connectable between the first and second support members, the crawl beam including two connecting formations so that the crawl beam can be connected to the first and second support members via the connecting formations on the first and second support members.

In one embodiment, the first and second support members are in the form of trusses.

The crane may include two vertical support members each including at least one connecting formation so that each of the vertical support members is connectable to the shipping container and/or to one of the first and second support members.

The crane includes lifting apparatus connected to either the first or second support members or to the crawl beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a crane being connected to a shipping container;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a crane being connected to a shipping container;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a crane being connected to a shipping container;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a crane being connected to a shipping container; and

Figures show a side view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 5 to 9 being connected to a shipping container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Figure 1 shows a first top support member 12 for a crane 10 including at least two container connecting formations 14 so that the first top support member is connectable to two top corners 16 of a shipping container 18.

When the first top support member 12 is connected to the top of the shipping container 18 as shown in the figure, it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container.

The first top support member 12 further includes a connecting formation 20 so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the first top support member as will be described in more detail below.

Thus it will be appreciated that in this example embodiment, the first top support member 12 is in the form of a single beam to which are attached mounting brackets that serve as the two container connecting formations 14.

The beam is fixed to the top of a container by means of bolts, nuts, washers, and fixing plates.

It will be appreciated that the attachment points correspond to the rigid corner fixtures included in the structure of the container as illustrated.

The connecting formation 20 is in the form of a plate connected to the extremity of the beam that provides a point of attachment to which lifting tackle can be attached by means of a hook or shackle etc.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the first top support member 12 can take the form of a truss for added strength. Thus in Figure 2 the first top support member 12 is a structure comprising a triangular unit constructed with three straight members whose ends are connected at joints.

Referring to Figure 3, the crane 10 may further include a second top support member 12b also including at least two container connecting formations 14b so that the second top support member is connectable to two top corners 16 of the shipping container 18.

Thus when the second top support member 12b is connected to the top of the shipping container 18 it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container as illustrated.

The second top support member also includes a connecting formation 20 so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the second top support member.

In this illustrated embodiment, the crane 10 includes a crawl beam 22 connectab!e between the first and second support members 12a and 12b. The crawl beam 22 includes two connecting formations 24 so that the crawl beam 22 can be connected to the first and second support members 12a and 12b via the connecting formations 20a and 20b on the first and second support members.

The crawl beam 22 provides support for a beam crawler (not shown) to which hoisting tackle (not shown) can be attached. This provides for greater loads than the previous embodiment and also allows for load travel in a longitudinaf direction.

Referring to Figure 4, the crane 10 in this illustrated embodiment also includes two vertical support members 26 each including at least one connecting formation so that each of the vertical support members 26 is connectable to the shipping container and/or to one of the first and second support members 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, each vertical support member 26 is movably connected to one of the first and second support members 12 so that the first and second support members 12 can be rotated around the joint to facilitate ease of mantling and dismantling as will be described in more detail below.

In the illustrated embodiment the connecting formation 20 on each of the first and second support members is in the form of a connecting formation so that a crawl beam can be connected to the first and second support members.

Pivot plates 38 are also connected to the crawl beam connecting formations.

Each vertical support member 26 includes feet which are brought into firm contact with the ground by means of built in jackscrews.

It will be appreciated that the vertical support members 26 could equally be used with the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-3 for extra support.

In addition, a crawler hood 28 is fitted to the crawl beam 22 to provide the crawler with protection from rain.

A canopy beam 30 and canopy rib 32 provide support for a canopy of flexible fabric (not shown) which can be stretched from the canopy beam 30 over the canopy rib 32 and fastened to the booms at attachment points provided. This will provide shelter from rain and sun.

A ladder 34 can be fixed to one of the two vertical support members 26 to provide access to the top of the container 10.

The erection of the container based crane 10 illustrated in Figure 4 is accomplished as follows with reference to Figures 5-9.

Firstly, referring to Figure 5, the container 18 is placed on a firm horizontal surface. The two rear brackets are fitted to the top corners of the shipping container. Next, the two vertical support members 26 are fitted to the side of the container 10 and the ladder 34 is fitted to one of these. On the ground in front of the container, the crawl beam 22 is connected between the two top support members 12 via the connecting formations 20 using bolts and nuts, and the pivot plates 38 which are bolted onto the resulting assembly. The resulting assembly is then connected via the pivot plates 38 to the pivot points 40 (best seen in Figure 5) on the vertical support members. This necessitates a lifting operation which is carried out using lifting bands 42 typically formed from chains and lever hoists, which are connected to formations on the two top support members 12 and to the front two corners of the container 18 as can be seen in Figure 6. The lifting bands 42 lift the two top support members 12 and the crawl beam 22 into the position seen in Figure 6 so that they can be secured to the two vertical support members.

The crawi beam cannot be clearly seen in Figure 6 as it runs into the page and its view (together with the view of the other top support member) is therefore obscured by the single top support member 12 that can be seen in the drawing.

The pivot plates 38 also have fixing points to which the canopy beam is attached.

Referring to Figure 7, the lifting bands 42 are now connected between the top support member/crawl beam assembly and the rear corners of the container 18. The support member/crawl beam assembly is then rotated using the pivot plate 38 about a pivot points into an intermediate position shown in Figure 7.

The forward attachment points of the top support member/crawl beam assembly indicated at 44 in Figure 7 are connected to the two vertical support members 26 by means of clevis pins and associated bolts and washers.

Referring now to Figure 8, the lifting band 42 is moved to the bottom rear corner of the container 18 and the boom/crawl beam assembly is disconnected from the pivot points 40 and rotated further by means of the lever hoists and chains into the position illustrated in the figure. The canopy beam, canopy rib and crawler hood are fixed to the crawl beam and the canopy (not shown) is fitted whilst in this position.

Finally, the boom/crawl beam assembly, with crawler hood and canopy are rotated further into their final position (Figure 9),

The boom/crawi beam rear attachment points indicated at 46 in Figure 9 are pinned to the rear brackets by means of clevis pins and associated bolts and washers and the tensioning bolts on the rear bracket are tightened.

The outrigger foot plates are brought into firm contact with the ground by means of the jack screws.

The crane includes lifting apparatus which is connected to either the first or second support members (Figures 1 and 2) or to the crawl beam (Figures 3 and 4).

All the components of the container based crane can be accommodated in a pallet based container for storage and shipment.

Thus it will be appreciated that the invention contemplated in this application comprises sets of structural and fastening elements which can be fixed to standard containers to provide (without modification of the containers), in conjunction with suitable lifting tackle such as chain hoists or blocks and tackle, a lifting means for loads. The container is thus used as a base for the structural elements, such elements comprising a crane from which lifting tackle can be supported.

In addition, different embodiments of the invention allow for more or less load capacity and/or crane reach and/or range of load travel and/or stability.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A crane including a first top support member including at least two container connecting formations so that the first top support member is connectable to two top corners of a shipping container so that when the first top support member is connected to the top of the shipping container it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container, the first top support member further including a connecting formation so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the first top support member.

2. A crane according to claim 1 further including a second top support member including at least two container connecting formations so that the second top support member is connectable to two top corners of a shipping container so that when the second top support member is connected to the top of the shipping container it extends across the width of the top of the shipping container and protrudes beyond the width of the shipping container, the second top support member further including a connecting formation so that a hoist can be directly or indirectly connected to the second top support member.

3. A crane according to claim 2 further including a crawl beam connectable between the first and second support members, the crawl beam including two connecting formations so that the crawl beam can be connected to the first and second support members via the connecting formations on the first and second support members.

4. A crane according to claim 2 claim 3 wherein the first and second support members are in the form of trusses.

5. A crane according to any one of claims 2 to 4 further including two vertical support members each including at least one connecting formation so that each of the vertical support members is connectable to the shipping container and/or to one of the first and second support members.

6. A crane according to claim 5 wherein the two vertical support members each include feet which are to be in contact with the ground when the two vertical support members are connected to the container.

7. A crane according to claims 5 or 6 further including a pivot point connected to each of the two vertical support members for use in erecting the crane.

8. A crane according to any one of claims 3 to 7 further including apparatus connected to either the first or second support members or to the crawl beam.

9. A crane according to any one of claims 3 to 8 further including a canopy connected to the first and second top support members.

10. A crane substantially as herein described with reference to the illustrated embodiments.