Apparatus for securing shore crane spreaders to auxiliary frames
First Claim
1. Apparatus for remotely connecting and locking an auxiliary frame to a crane spreader, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a stowage frame for supporting said auxiliary frame when not in use;
b) an auxiliary frame having;
i) a plurality of rotatable locking means mounted thereon for securing said auxiliary frame to said crane spreader; and
ii) a plurality of extensible and rotatable twist lock members for securing said auxiliary frame to an intermodal container;
c) a rotary actuator mounted on said auxiliary frame, said actuator being connected to said rotatable locking means via a linkage means, said actuator having a first unlocked and unsecured position and a second locked and secured position;
d) first means for receiving said rotary actuator mounted on said stowage frame, said first means having a second means for rotating said rotary actuator when said rotary actuator is received by said first means;
e) third means mounted on said auxiliary frame for preventing rotation of said rotary actuator when said rotary actuator is withdrawn from said first means; and
f) manual means for uncoupling said rotary actuator from said third means in the event of an emergency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for securing shore crane spreaders to extension frames is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of rotatable twist locks installed on the extension frame which mate with lifting fittings located on the crane spreader. These twist locks are all connected together through a linkage system to an actuator located on the extension frame. The actuator consists of a lever connected to the twist lock linkage and a shaft coupled to the top portion of a torque tube that extends down from the dock. When a stevedore located at dockside rotates the torque tube, the actuator is simultaneously rotated which rotates the twist lock of the extension frame within the fittings of the crane spreader, thereby locking the extension frame to the spreader. By lifting the crane spreader and the extension frame off of the dockside stowage frame, a safety mechanism is automatically activated which prevents the actuator and rotatable twist locks from rotating any further while the spreader/extension frame is handling cargo. Only when the extension frame is supported on the dockside stowage frame are the twist locks freely rotatable. A removable pin is provided to couple the actuator to the safety mechanism. This pin may be manually removed in the event of an emergency which requires separation of the spreader and the auxiliary frame.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for remotely connecting and locking an auxiliary frame to a crane spreader, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a stowage frame for supporting said auxiliary frame when not in use; b) an auxiliary frame having; i) a plurality of rotatable locking means mounted thereon for securing said auxiliary frame to said crane spreader; and ii) a plurality of extensible and rotatable twist lock members for securing said auxiliary frame to an intermodal container; c) a rotary actuator mounted on said auxiliary frame, said actuator being connected to said rotatable locking means via a linkage means, said actuator having a first unlocked and unsecured position and a second locked and secured position; d) first means for receiving said rotary actuator mounted on said stowage frame, said first means having a second means for rotating said rotary actuator when said rotary actuator is received by said first means; e) third means mounted on said auxiliary frame for preventing rotation of said rotary actuator when said rotary actuator is withdrawn from said first means; and f) manual means for uncoupling said rotary actuator from said third means in the event of an emergency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for securing an auxiliary frame to an intermodal container comprising the steps of:
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a) landing a crane spreader onto an auxiliary frame supported by a stowage frame, said auxiliary frame having a plurality of rotatable locking means mounted thereon, wherein said spreader has a corresponding plurality of fittings for receiving said rotatable locking means; b) rotating an actuating means located on said auxiliary frame, to cause simultaneous rotation of said plurality of rotatable locking means to secure said auxiliary frame to said spreader; c) withdrawing said crane spreader and said auxiliary frame from said stowage frame while simultaneously locking said auxiliary frame to said spreader; d) securing said auxiliary frame onto said intermodal container by landing a plurality of rotatable twist lock lugs located on said auxiliary frame into a corresponding plurality of castings located on said intermodal container and rotating said rotatable twist lock lugs into engagement with said castings; and e) uncoupling said actuating means from said locking means carried on said auxiliary frame in the event an emergency requires separation of the spreader and the auxiliary frame.
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Specification