Hoisting equipment including spreader with longitudinal and transverse tilting mechanism

Claim 2

Load-hoisting equipment comprising a crane, a spreader comprising a frame having a normally approximately horizontal longitudinal axis and comprising a portion which extends during use as a substantially inflexible unit over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said frame portion to interlock with said container, and a plurality of cables connecting the spreader in pendant relation with the crane, said crane having means for simultaneously paying out or reeling in said cables at equilinear rates, said cables being connected with said spreader to establish a first point of connection with the frame along said axis and two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise of said axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said axis; a pair of longitudinally extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected between and with the spreader frame and one of said cables spaced from said axis, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower with respect to the cable connected thereto that portion of the frame adjacent to the respective point of connection of said two points.

Claim 3

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 1 wherein: said linking means comprises double acting hydraulic cylinders.

Claim 4

The hoisting equipment of claim 1 comprising: a pair of sheaves having peripheral cable-receiving grooves rotatably attached to said frame and receiving said pair of cables attached to the linking means to establish said two points of connection; said linking means being hydraulic cylinders attached to said frame with their lengths aligned lengthwise of the frame toward respective sheaves, each cylinder being aligned with the groove of one of said sheaves.

Claim 5

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 1 wherein: said spreader comprises a master hoist unit comprising said frame and a slave pickup unit adapted for direct attachment to a load; said spreader comprising quick disconnect means for connecting said slave unit to said master unit in subjacent relation therewith.

Claim 6

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 1 comprising: control and power means connected with both of said linking means for simultaneously shortening one linking means while correspondingly extending the other linking means to tilt said spreader about said longitudinal axis.

Claim 7

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 1 wherein: said spreader comprises a centrally-pivoted rocking beam extending transversely of said axis in pivotal connection with said frame at said first point, said beam being constructed at each end to provide an arcuate groove extending downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the beam, a pair of said cables being received in said grooves, means on the beam in spaced and aligned relation with each of said grooves in association with means attaChed to the ends of said cables for linearly adjusting the cables relative to the beam.

Claim 8

The hoisting equipment of claim 1 comprising: adjustable means for connecting the linking means to the spreader, said adjustable means operable to change the position of the linking means with respect to the spreader in the direction of the length of respective attached cables.

Claim 9

The hoisting equipment of claim 1 comprising: a pair of sheaves rotatably attached to the frame and receiving said pair of cables attached to the linking means to establish said second and third points of connection; said linking means being hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder having a rod end and a cylinder end; adjustable means for attaching each cylinder by one of said ends to said frame with its length aligned lengthwise of the frame toward the cable groove of one of said sheaves, each of said cylinders being attached by their other ends to respective cables extending around said sheaves; said adjustable means being adjustable to move each cylinder lengthwise of itself toward and away from the sheave in alignment therewith.

Claim 10

A level-adjusting load-hoisting unit for use with a slave unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, said level-adjusting unit comprising a frame having means along the lower portion thereof for attaching to a slave unit, said frame having a longitudinal axis and cable-receiving means along an upper portion of the frame for connecting with cables depending from a crane including connecting means for establishing a first point connection with the frame along said axis and second and third connecting means for establishing two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise of said axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said axis; said second and third connecting means including a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected between and with the spreader frame to receive a cable extending toward the respective connecting means, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower with respect to a cable connected thereto that portion of the frame adjacent the respective point of connection.

Claim 11

A level-adjusting load-hoisting unit for use with a slave unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, said level-adjusting unit comprising a frame having means along the lower portion thereof for attaching to a slave unit, said frame having a longitudinal axis and cable-receiving means along an upper portion of the frame for connecting with cables depending from a crane including connecting means for establishing a first point connection with the frame along said axis and second and third connecting means for establishing two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise of said axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said axis; said second and third connecting means including a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected between and with the spreader frame to receive a cable extending toward the respective connecting means, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower with respect to a cable connected thereto that portion of the frame adjacent the respective point of connection.

Claim 12

Load-hoisting equipment comprising a crane; a spreader comprising a master level-adjusting unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, a slave spreader unit, and quick disconnect coupling means for connecting the units; and a plurality of cables connecting the master unit with the crane to thereby dispose the spreader in pendant relation with the crane; said crane having means for simultaneously paying out or reeling in said cables at equilinear rates; said master unit having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the slave unit when connected therewith with at least three of said cables being connected with said master unit to establish a first point of connection with the frame along said axis and two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise along said axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said axis; a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected between and with the spreader frame and one of said cables aligned with one of said pair of connection points, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower, with respect to the cable connected thereto, that portion of the frame adjacent to the respective associated point of connection.

Claim 13

Load-hoisting equipment comprising a crane; a spreader comprising a master level-adjusting unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, a slave spreader unit, and quick disconnect coupling means for connecting the units; and a plurality of cables connecting the master unit with the crane to thereby dispose the spreader in pendant relation with the crane; said crane having means for simultaneously paying out or reeling in said cables at equilinear rates; said master unit having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the slave unit when connected therewith with at least three of said cables being connected with said master unit to establish a first point of connection with the frame along said axis and two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise along said axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said axis; a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected between and with the spreader frame and one of said cables aligned with one of said pair of connection points, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower, with respect to the cable connected thereto, that portion of the frame adjacent to the respective associated point of connection.

Claim 14

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 10 wherein: said master unit comprises a centrally-pivoted rocking beam extending transversely of said axis in Pivotal connection with said frame at said first point; a pair of coaxial transversely-spaced sheaves rotatably attached to said frame along an axis extending in transverse relation with said longitudinal axis and transversely-spaced to receive a pair of said cables at said pair of points of connection; said linking means comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each having a rod end and a cylinder end, each cylinder attached to said frame by one end with its other end being aligned toward the cable groove of one of said sheaves with said other end attached to the cable extending through said groove; and a pair of said cables attaching to said beam at adjacent opposite ends thereof.

Claim 15

Load-hoisting equipment comprising a crane; a spreader comprising two master level-adjusting units, a slave spreader unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, and coupling means for connecting said slave unit to said master units in subjacent relation with the master units; and a plurality of cables connecting the master units with the crane to thereby dispose the spreader in pendant relation with the crane, said crane having means for simultaneously paying out or reeling in said cables at equilinear rates; said master units being spaced longitudinally along the length of the slave unit, said coupling means comprising pivotal means shared by the slave unit and each master unit providing independent pivotal relationship of each master unit with the slave unit along an axis in transverse relation with a longitudinal axis of the spreader; each master unit having a frame with its longitudinal axis normally in approximate alignment with the lingitudinal axis of the other master unit and extending lengthwise of said slave unit when connected therewith, at least three of said cables being connected with each master unit to establish a first point of connection with the frame along said axis and two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise along said slave unit axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said unit axis; and a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected and with the spreader frame and one of said cables aligned with one of said pair of connection points, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower, with respect to the cable connected thereto, that portion of the frame adjacent to the respective associated point of connection.

Claim 16

Load-hoisting equipment comprising a crane; a spreader comprising two master level-adjusting units, a slave spreader unit which extends during use in substantially inflexible condition over the top portion of a cargo container and has latching means adapting said slave unit to interlock with said container, and coupling means for connecting said slave unit to said master units in subjacent relation with the master units; and a plurality of cables connecting the master units with the crane to thereby dispose the spreader in pendant relation with the crane, said crane having means for simultaneously paying out or reeling in said cables at equilinear rates; said master units being spaced longitudinally along the length of the slave unit, said coupling means comprising pivotal means shared by the slave unit and each master unit providing independent pivotal relationship of each master unit with the slave unit along an axis in transverse relation with a longitudinal axis of the spreader; each master unit having a frame with its longitudinal axis normally in approximate alignment with the lingitudinal axis of the other master unit and extending lengthwise of said slave unit when connected therewith, at least three of said cables being connected with each master unit to establish a first point of connection with the frame along said axis and two points of connection with the frame spaced lengthwise along said slave unit axis from said first point and in laterally-spaced relation with, and on opposite sides of, said unit axis; and a pair of longitudinally-extendable and shortenable linking means, each operatively connected and with the spreader frame and one of said cables aligned with one of said pair of connection points, each of said linking means being selectively operable to raise or lower, with respect to the cable connected thereto, that portion of the frame adjacent to the respective associated point of connection.

Claim 17

The load-hoisting equipment of claim 12 comprising: control and power means connected with said linking means for simultaneously shortening the linking means located on one side of said spreader axis while correspondingly extending the other linking means located on the other side of said axis to tilt said spreader about an axis extending lengthwise of the spreader, said control and power means being also operable to simultaneously shorten or lengthen the linking means of one master unit relative to the linking means of the other master unit to change the trim of the spreader.