Automated marine container terminal and system

• US 20100021272A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marine Terminals Corporation (HarborCorp)
• Original Assignee: Marine Terminals Corporation (HarborCorp)
• Inventors: Ward, Thomas A., Martin, Kai Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/137.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/20 three-dimensional, e.g. cubiform, cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 63/004 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 17/20 for hoisting or lowering heavy load carriers, e.g. freight containers, railway wagons
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/002 Container cranes B66C19/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/007 for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A system, equipment, and processes for extending the scope of automation in port container facilities, and thereby increasing port capacity within fixed land resources, increasing operational productivity, increasing safety, increasing the velocity and reliability of goods movement, increasing freight security, reducing negative environmental impacts, and reducing the overall cost of goods movement. A storage area is accessed by automated guided vehicles which receive and unload containerized loads. On the waterside, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and ships using quay cranes. On the ground transportation side, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and truck or rail carriers using semi automated or automated remote-controlled bridge cranes. Within the storage area, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and the storage facilities using automated stacking cranes. The vehicles are adapted to receive a cassette storage platform which in turn receives standard ISO containers. The vehicles also are adapted to receive one or more alternative platforms including a coning platform for workers to manage container coning, a reefer access and maintenance platform, and a worker transport platform. The use of a single vehicle type with interchangeable platforms allows for maximum flexibility and efficiency. The automation of the vehicle allows for complete contamination within the storage portion of the system.

The system thus substantially extends the reach of automation to cover both landside and waterside intra-terminal transfer operations. By this extension, the interface of workers and machines is greatly reduced, increasing safety, productivity, security, and capacity. By this extension, the robotic control process can be fully optimized, increasing velocity and reliability while reducing the terminal'"'"'s environmental footprint.

Claims

1. A port system for storing and transporting standardized containers in a port facility, comprising:

at least one storage block for storing containers;

two automated stacking cranes per storage block on common rails;

a waterside crane for transferring containers into and out of a waterborne vessel;

a landside crane for transferring containers onto and off of land transportation vehicles;

a set of automated vehicles for transporting containers between the storage block and the waterside crane or landside crane;

an equipment control system to control automated equipment; and

a terminal operating system to manage the port system;

wherein the two automated stacking cranes are adapted to transfer containers between the storage block and the automated vehicles; and

the landside and waterside cranes are adapted to transfer containers onto and off of the automated vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement of the automated vehicles is controlled by the equipment control system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the automated vehicles use a common base adapted to receive any of a plurality of platforms including a container platform for holding a container, or a work platform for containment and transport of workers, or a coning platform for placement and removal of container cones, or a reefer platform for access and maintenance of refrigerated containers, or a crane maintenance platform for maintenance of cranes.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the automated stacking cranes are movable over the storage block on rails running substantially perpendicular to the waterside.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the automated stacking cranes are movable over the storage block on rails running substantially parallel to the waterside.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage block includes a first side accessible by the automated vehicles and a second side accessible by the automated vehicles, and wherein an automated stacking crane is positioned to load and unload containers to and from the automated vehicles.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first side and second side are opposite one another on the storage stack.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising two substantially identical automated stacking cranes, wherein the first automated stacking crane serves the first side and the second automated stacking crane serves the second side.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising two nested automated stacking cranes of different size, whereby either automated stacking crane can serve either side.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a terminal operating system for managing said port system, the terminal operating system including at a minimum the following components:

1) operational planning for vessel, berth, train, rail, and gate activities;

     2) operational control and messaging for vessel, rail, and gate operational direction;

     3) resource planning and integrated monitoring;

     4) messaging interface for external users and contacts;

     5) inventory management and equipment control; and

     6) system status and condition reporting.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an equipment control system for monitoring and controlling automated equipment in the port system.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein said platform is a work platform with a floor, a ceiling, and walls connecting the floor and ceiling, and wherein the floor includes a pressure-sensitive mat to detect the pressure of a worker on the floor.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the walls include protective grating.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein said platform is a coning platform with an auxiliary platform connected to one side which rises to a raised height level with the coning platform and lowers to a lowered height below the raised height for accessing and servicing cones on a container platform.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein said platform is a reefer platform for accessing and maintaining refrigerated containers in a container storage block.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein said platform is a worker transport platform having a set of seats to receive and transport workers.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the landside crane is a bridge crane having a first end that extends over a first area that receives said automated vehicles, and a second end that extends over a second area that receives land transportation, whereby the bridge crane can lift and move containers between the automated vehicles and the land transportation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said first end and second end are divided by a barrier to land transportation workers.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said land transportation is a truck.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said land transportation is a rail car.

21. A method for operating a port, comprising, in any order:

establishing a storage block for storing standardized containers, said storage block including an automated stacking crane and at least two buffer areas;

establishing a landside loading area with a landside crane;

establishing a waterside loading area with a waterside crane;

moving containers between landside transportation and automated vehicles using said landside crane;

transporting containers between the landside crane and the storage block using said automated vehicles;

moving containers between the automated vehicles and the storage block using said automated stacking cranes;

transporting containers between the storage block and the waterside crane using said automated vehicles; and

moving containers between the automated vehicles and waterborne vessels using said waterside crane.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the landside crane is a bridge crane;

and wherein the step of moving containers between the landside transportation and automated vehicles includes establishing a landside zone accessible by landside vehicles and establishing a buffer zone accessible by automated vehicles, the landside zone and the buffer zone being divided by a barrier adapted to limit access by landside zone workers into the buffer zone, and moving containers overhead between the landside vehicles and the automated vehicles.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the storage block includes two or more automated stacking cranes;

and wherein the automated vehicles can be accessed by the automated stacking cranes at two or more locations.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the automated stacking cranes are nested whereby either automated stacking crane can access either said location.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the automated stacking crane is moveable over the storage block on rails running parallel to the waterside.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the automated stacking crane is moveable over the storage block on rails running perpendicular to the waterside.