Device for transloading floating containers

Claim 1

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said holding means comprising a free wheeling coupling having one side connected to the drum means, a selectively operable brake connected to the other side of said free wheeling coupling, said coupling permitting rotation of said drum means in one direction only when said brake is actuated, and a holding motor connected to said other side of each coupling and operable when said brake is released to drive said other side of said free wheeling coupling in cable pay-out direction.

Claim 2

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said holding means comprising a free wheeling coupling having one side connected to the drum means, a selectively operable brake connected to the other side of said free wheeling coupling, said coupling permitting rotation of said drum means in one direction only when said brake is actuated, and a holding motor connected to said other side of each coupling and operable when said brake is released to drive said other side of said free wheeling coupling in cable pay-out direction.

Claim 5

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of couPling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said elements of coupling means on said support frame being actuatable into locked position with the complementary elements on a container, a drive for simultaneously actuating said elements on the support frame into locking position, and control means on the support frame operable in response to the interfitting of all of the said elements on the support frame with the corresponding elements on a container to actuate said drive in locking position, said elements of coupling means on said support frame comprising studs projecting downwardly therefrom and adapted for being received in sockets in a container, said studs locking in said sockets upon rotation of the studs, said drive being operable for rotating said studs.

Claim 6

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of couPling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said elements of coupling means on said support frame being actuatable into locked position with the complementary elements on a container, a drive for simultaneously actuating said elements on the support frame into locking position, and control means on the support frame operable in response to the interfitting of all of the said elements on the support frame with the corresponding elements on a container to actuate said drive in locking position, said elements of coupling means on said support frame comprising studs projecting downwardly therefrom and adapted for being received in sockets in a container, said studs locking in said sockets upon rotation of the studs, said drive being operable for rotating said studs.

Claim 7

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, means for energizing said auxiliary motor means in response to the coupling of said support frame to a container, vertical movements of the center of gravity of a container coupled to said support frame being ascertained from the rotation of said auxiliary motor means and said brakes and holding motors being controlled in conformity therewith.

Claim 8

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, means for energizing said auxiliary motor means in response to the coupling of said support frame to a container, vertical movements of the center of gravity of a container coupled to said support frame being ascertained from the rotation of said auxiliary motor means and said brakes and holding motors being controlled in conformity therewith.

Claim 10

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum meAns on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said elements on said support frame comprising downwardly opening socket-like members, said elements on the container comprising upstanding members receivable in the socket-like members, openings in the sides of said members, and hooks pivoted on the socket-like member and having end parts adapted to enter said openings and lock said socket-like member and upstanding members together.

Claim 11

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum meAns on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, said elements on said support frame comprising downwardly opening socket-like members, said elements on the container comprising upstanding members receivable in the socket-like members, openings in the sides of said members, and hooks pivoted on the socket-like member and having end parts adapted to enter said openings and lock said socket-like member and upstanding members together.

Claim 17

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, supporting means adapted for connection to a ship and operable to engage a container floating in the water and hold the container in spaced relation to the ship, said supporting means being vertically movable relative to the ship, said supporting means comprising a pair of laterally spaced rods, an intermediate member extending laterally between the outer ends of said rods and fixedly interconnecting said outer ends of said rods, and electromagnets on the outer ends of said rods adapted to engage magnetic regions o said container.

Claim 18

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, supporting means adapted for connection to a ship and operable to engage a container floating in the water and hold the container in spaced relation to the ship, said supporting means being vertically movable relative to the ship, said supporting means comprising a pair of laterally spaced rods, an intermediate member extending laterally between the outer ends of said rods and fixedly interconnecting said outer ends of said rods, and electromagnets on the outer ends of said rods adapted to engage magnetic regions o said container.

Claim 20

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, two cables being provided at each of two corners of said support frame, and guide means engaging the two cables at each said corner to inhibit swaying of a container, each said guide means comprising a plate notched on one edge to receive the cables to be guided thereby, and means pivotally supporting each plate to permit movement of the plate out of the path of the support frame.

Claim 21

A device for handling containers, especially for use as a crane in load transfer near water and relative to a pier, a ship and the like, comprising a main frame, a support frame, elements of coupling means on the support frame for interfitting cooperation with complementary elements of coupling means on a container to connect a container to said support frame, winch means and drum means on the main frame and cables leading from the winch means to the support frame and about idlers thereon and back to said drum means, main motor means for reversibly driving said winch means to effect raising and lowering movements of said support frame, auxiliary motor means connected to said drum means energizable for biasing said drum means in cable take up direction, said auxiliary motor means exerting a torque on the drum means less than that imposed thereon by the weight of said support frame whereby the cables are held taut when the support frame rises and falls due to wave action, holding means operatively connected to said drum means and selectively operable to permit rotation of said drum means in cable take up direction by said auxiliary motor means while preventing rotation of said drum means in cable pay-out direction or for permitting rotation of said drum means in either direction, two cables being provided at each of two corners of said support frame, and guide means engaging the two cables at each said corner to inhibit swaying of a container, each said guide means comprising a plate notched on one edge to receive the cables to be guided thereby, and means pivotally supporting each plate to permit movement of the plate out of the path of the support frame.