Apparatus for securing shore crane spreaders to auxiliary frames

• US 5,350,210 A
• Filed: 09/16/1992
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg, DAMPSKIBSSELSKABET AF 1912, AKTIESELKAB
• Original Assignee: Sea-Land Service, Inc. (A.P. Møller Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Wisniewski, Stanley J., Barnett, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, JOHNNY DAN
• Application Number:
  US07/945,748
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 294/67.1, 294/67.3, 294/67.4, 294/68.3, 294/81.1, 294/81.2, 294/81.21, 294/81.5, 294/81.52, 294/81.53, 294/81.55, 212/125, 212/221, 220/1.5, 410/77, 410/82, 410/83, 414/137.1, 414/139.4, 414/140.3, 414/141.3, 414/141.7, 414/142.8, 414/460, 414/461, 414/607, 414/608, 414/626
• US Class Current: 294/81.53
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/663 for containers fastening of containers on vehicles B60P7/13, B60P7/132

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.

Claims

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.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first means includes a rotatable locking tube member having a first end for receiving said rotary actuator when said auxiliary frame is supported by said stowage frame, and a handle attached thereto.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first means further includes a support tube member for supporting said rotatable locking tube member, said support tube member being mounted on said stowage frame.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said rotatable locking tube member is disposed within said support tube member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rotatable locking tube member extends downward a distance to create ground level access to said handle.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said handle extends from said rotatable locking tube member so that said auxiliary frame is secured to said crane spreader when said handle is rotated 90°

.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rotary actuator comprises:

coupling means for accommodating said first end of said rotatable locking tube member, said coupling means further adapted to simultaneously rotate when said handle is rotated;

shaft means having a first and an opposite end, said shaft means connected to said coupling means at said first end; and

a lever means connected to said shaft means at said opposite end, said lever means additionally connected to said plurality of rotatable locking means via said linkage means to effectuate rotation thereof.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further including a bracket means for mounting said rotary actuator on said auxiliary frame.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said bracket means is comprised of at least one planar ledge portion having a bearing disposed therein for receiving said shaft means of said rotary actuator, said planar ledge portion disposed substantially transverse with respect to said shaft means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shaft means of said rotary actuator is axially compressible and expandable;

said shaft means being compressed when said actuator is in said first unlocked and unsecured position and expanded when said actuator is in said second locked and secured position.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said third means comprises:

a cap means formed on said rotary actuator;

locking means located on said bracket means for engaging said cap means when said rotary actuator is rotated; and

spring means for urging said cap means into engagement with said locking means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said cap means includes an inverted cup means formed on said shaft means and having an upper cup portion and a bottom portion defining a cup rim, said bottom portion being positioned a distance above said locking means when said rotary actuator is in said first unsecured and unlocked position.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said locking means includes a pair of locking bars located on said bracket means, wherein when said rotary actuator is expanded, said cup rim is positioned between said pair of locking bars thereby preventing further actuator rotation.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said spring means includes a coil spring formed around said shaft means between said upper cup portion and said lever means, said coil spring acting to expand said shaft means and position said bottom portion of said inverted cup means between said locking bars.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary actuator is biased out of engagement with said third means when said auxiliary frame is supported on said stowage frame, whereby said rotary actuator is in said first unsecured and unlocked position.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manual means for uncoupling said rotary actuator further includes a removable locking pin for coupling said third means to said rotary actuator, whereby said locking pin may be manually removed and said rotary actuator rotated to facilitate separation of the spreader and auxiliary frame in an emergency.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary frame comprises a hollow stationary frame member having a first and a second end, first and second moveable frame members each slidably disposed within said stationary frame member wherein each of said moveable frame members includes at least two corner post members extending downward therefrom for securing an intermodal container thereto.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each of said corner post members includes one of said plurality of extensible and rotatable twist lock members adapted to connect with said intermodal container.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said rotatable twist lock members includes a rotatable shaft member and a means disposed at an upper end thereof for receiving a rotatable spreader twist lock, wherein rotation of said rotatable spreader twist locks effectuates rotation of said rotatable twist lock members to thereby secure said auxiliary frame to said container.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein each of said corner post members further defines a hollow tube member for supporting one of said plurality of extensible and rotatable twist lock members.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein each of said corner post members includes a fourth means for preventing rotation of said rotatable twist lock member when said auxiliary frame is handling said container.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said fourth means comprises:

a twist lock stop means formed on said rotatable shaft member for rotation therewith;

a blockade means disposed within said corner post member for engaging said twist lock stop means to thereby prevent rotation of said rotatable shaft member when said auxiliary frame is handling said container.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said fourth means additionally comprises a plunger means for urging said blockade means to engage said twist lock stop means when said auxiliary frame is handling said container and for urging said blockade means away from said twist lock stop means for disengagement therefrom when said auxiliary frame is disposed on top of said container prior to or after handling said container.

24. A method for securing an auxiliary frame to an intermodal container comprising the steps of:

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.