APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING A LOAD

• US 20090082915A1
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C.V.S. S.p.A. (CVS ferrari S.P.A.)
• Original Assignee: C.V.S. S.p.A. (CVS ferrari S.P.A.)
• Inventors: Pizzoccheri, Giuseppe, Manzi, Cristiano
• Application Number:
  US12/067,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0652 Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/007 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 3/16 by fluid motors

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for transporting a load, in particular for transporting a container, particularly of the gantry type, includes an electrical power user element (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32a) which has a respective control element (30′a, 30′b, 30′c, 30′d, 32′a), and an element (34, 36) for supplying electrical power to the user element (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32a). The element for supplying electrical power includes at least an internal combustion engine (34) and an element (36) for transforming the mechanical power generated by the internal combustion engine into electrical power to be supplied to the user element. Advantageously, there are elements which allow a change in the operating speed of the internal combustion engine (34) according to the power required by the user element.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for transporting a load, in particular for transporting a container, particularly of the gantry type, comprising electrical power user means (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32a) which have respective control means (30′

a, 30′

b, 30′

c, 30′

d, 32′

a), and means (34, 36) for supplying electrical power to the user means (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32a), wherein the means for supplying electrical power comprise at least an internal combustion engine (34) and means (36) for transforming the mechanical power generated by the internal combustion engine into electrical power to be supplied to the respective electric drive motor;

the apparatus being characterised in that there are means (36′

) for controlling the electrical power supplied to the user means, designed to allow a variation in the operating speed and the electrical power emitted by the transformation means (36) according to the power required by the user means (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32a).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that there are means acting on the output shaft of the internal combustion engine (34), said means using electricity produced by the user means (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 32d).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that there are means (36′

) for controlling the electrical transformation means (36), designed to allow inverse operation of the transformation means (36) as an electric motor acting on the internal combustion engine (34).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) for moving the apparatus along a desired path and also characterised in that the user means comprise drive means (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) for the apparatus movements means (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) consisting at least of an electric motor with control means (30′

a, 30′

b, 30′

c, 30′

d).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises load pick up means (18) which are mobile at least between a load pick up or release position and a load transport position, and also being characterised in that the user means comprise drive means for the load pick up means (18) consisting of at least one electric motor (32a) with control means (32′

a).

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the control means (36′

) operate on the transformation means (36) to invert the operation of the latter, when electrical power is supplied by the drive means of the movement means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that the drive means of the movement means supply electrical power to the transformation means when the apparatus is slowed.

8. The apparatus according claim 5, characterised in that the control means (36′

) operate on the transformation means (36) to invert the operation of the latter, when electrical power is supplied by the drive means (32a) of the load pick up means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the drive means of the load pick up means supply electrical power to the transformation means when the load is lowered.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the movement means consist of a plurality of wheels for moving the apparatus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of motors for driving the movement means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the speed of the internal combustion engine is continuously varied between a minimum speed and a maximum speed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive a hydraulic distributor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive a hydraulic distributor.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive the steering wheel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive the engine fan.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive the driver'"'"'s cab air conditioning unit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that energy produced by the user means is used to drive the alternator for charging electric batteries.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises energy storage means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the energy storage means comprise means for storing energy in a pressurised fluid.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterised in that the means for storing energy in a pressurised fluid comprise first means for storage of the fluid (152).

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, characterised in that the first means for storage of the fluid (152) are designed to contain a fluid at a high pressure.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that means for storing energy in a pressurised fluid comprise second means for storing the fluid (154).

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, characterised in that the second means for storage of the fluid (154) are designed to contain a fluid at a low pressure.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the energy storage means comprise pumping means (156) designed to transfer the fluid between the first and second storage means (152, 154).

26. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the energy stored in the storage means is used when the loads is lifted.

27. The apparatus according to claim 19, characterised in that the energy stored in the storage means is used when the apparatus is accelerated.