Grappler guidance system for a gantry crane
First Claim
1. A gantry crane having frame and a vertically movable grappler supported by the frame, the grappler being operable to engage and lift a container, the grappler having a plurality of twistlocks positioned to engage locking holes in a container, the gantry crane also having a grappler positioning system including:
- at least two video devices mounted to the grappler at respective corners of the grappler near the twistlocks;
at least one monitor operable to display a video image from at least one of the video devices;
a plurality of alignment sensors, each alignment sensor being mounted near a respective side of the grappler between two of the twistlocks for sensing a relative position of a respective side of a container vertically below; and
an indicator actuatable by a respective one of the alignment sensors to indicate when the respective side of the grappler is aligned vertically over the side of the container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a gantry crane having a movable grappler adapted for lifting standard containers, a system is provided to aid in positioning the grappler relative to the container. The grappler is equipped with at least two corner video devices located near corners of the grappler for viewing the corner locking holes of a container below. In an embodiment, an additional distal video device is mounted to a side of the grappler opposite the cab to view the relative orientation of a side of the container relative to the side of the grappler. In an embodiment, a plurality of alignment sensors are mounted to respective sides of the grappler to detect the relative position of corresponding sides of the container vertically below. In an embodiment, a pair of height sensors are mounted to the grappler to measure a height of the grappler above the upper surface of the container. Additionally, indicators are provided in the cab to indicate information transmitted from the alignment sensors and/or height sensors. A method is provided for guiding the grappler wherein an operator adjusts the grappler position so that a line on a monitor overlaps or corresponds to an edge of the container displayed on the monitor as viewed from one of the video devices.
59 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A gantry crane having frame and a vertically movable grappler supported by the frame, the grappler being operable to engage and lift a container, the grappler having a plurality of twistlocks positioned to engage locking holes in a container, the gantry crane also having a grappler positioning system including:
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at least two video devices mounted to the grappler at respective corners of the grappler near the twistlocks; at least one monitor operable to display a video image from at least one of the video devices; a plurality of alignment sensors, each alignment sensor being mounted near a respective side of the grappler between two of the twistlocks for sensing a relative position of a respective side of a container vertically below; and an indicator actuatable by a respective one of the alignment sensors to indicate when the respective side of the grappler is aligned vertically over the side of the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22)
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12. A grappler guidance system for a gantry crane of a type having a frame supporting a vertically movable grappler which is operable to grasp and lift a container, the grappler having a plurality of twistlocks positioned to engage locking holes at upper corners of a standard container, the gantry crane further having a grappler positioning system including:
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at least two corner video devices mounted to the grappler at near respective twistlocks; a distal video device mounted to a side of the grappler opposite the cab and directed generally downwardly to provide a view of an edge of the container; at least one monitor operable to display a video image from at least one of the video devices; a plurality of alignment sensors, each alignment sensor being mounted near a respective side of the grappler between two of the twistlocks for sensing a position of a respective side of a container vertically below relative to the side of the grappler; an indicator actuatable by a respective one of the alignment sensors to indicate when the respective side of the grappler is aligned vertically over the side of the container a plurality of height sensors mounted to the grappler, each of the height sensors sensing a respective distance between the grappler and an upper surface of the container; and a readout located in the cab displaying a height detected by the height sensors. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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Specification