Container tranfer terminal system and method
First Claim
1. A terminal system for unloading containers from and loading containers onto container ships, comprising:
- A. a terminal structure having an interconnected right side, left side and rear side, and a substantially open front side with at least two side-by-side quays adapted to each form at least one dock, said dock including a wall on at least two facing sides thereof, each of said docks adapted to receive at least one container ship;
B. a plurality of elevated ground conveyance rails positioned atop at least one of said walls;
C. longitudinal conveyance rails positioned above each of said walls;
D. a plurality of generally transverse overhead conveyance beams constructed and adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicularly between said longitudinal conveyance rails and positioned over at least one of said container ships in each of said docks; and
E. at least one container transport vehicle constructed and adapted to be capable of traveling along said elevated ground conveyance rails and said generally transverse overhead conveyance beams and adapted to pick up, carry and deposit a container between a container ship berthed in said dock and a location other than the container ship.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal and system for the automatic computerized unloading of containerized cargo from container ships to trucks, railroad cars, other ships and storage. The terminal system is equipped to store or transfer unloaded cargo automatically by using independent container transfer vehicles. The cargo ships are moored between quays of a terminal building constructed in or adjacent to a waterway. Independent container transfer vehicles on an overhead transverse beam system lift a container up and away from a ship transfer to the elevated ground rail system without changing orientation, and then shuttle on elevated ground conveyance rails to other areas of the terminal to distribute the container to the pertinent transportation system (railcar, truck, another ship, or storage). Containers can also be unloaded from trucks and railroad cars and transported to a berthed ship utilizing the same transportation system. Remotely controlled docking modules may be used to guide an incoming ship into the quay and to assist in engaging the ship'"'"'s hull onto a bow mooring assembly. Side fenders positioned in the quay moor the ship and maintain its position within the dock during cargo transfers. A rapid fueling system refuels the ships. The terminal can be located on land or offshore in any navigable waterway with either an access tunnel or a causeway for truck and rail access from land.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A terminal system for unloading containers from and loading containers onto container ships, comprising:
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A. a terminal structure having an interconnected right side, left side and rear side, and a substantially open front side with at least two side-by-side quays adapted to each form at least one dock, said dock including a wall on at least two facing sides thereof, each of said docks adapted to receive at least one container ship;
B. a plurality of elevated ground conveyance rails positioned atop at least one of said walls;
C. longitudinal conveyance rails positioned above each of said walls;
D. a plurality of generally transverse overhead conveyance beams constructed and adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicularly between said longitudinal conveyance rails and positioned over at least one of said container ships in each of said docks; and
E. at least one container transport vehicle constructed and adapted to be capable of traveling along said elevated ground conveyance rails and said generally transverse overhead conveyance beams and adapted to pick up, carry and deposit a container between a container ship berthed in said dock and a location other than the container ship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a roof on said terminal structure;
means for removing ship stack emissions from within said terminal structure;
service portals separate from cargo handling areas of said terminal which provide access to ships berthed in said docks;
bow and side fender mooring devices adaptable to the form of a ship'"'"'s hull;
service harnesses which provide fast shore service connections to ships berthed in said docks;
caisson doors attached to at least one of said docks which open and close, and when closed isolate said dock from the adjoining waterway to allow dewatering of said dock for drydocking a ship or to permit water to be pumped into said dock acting as a lock to raise the position of a ship within said dock; and
a high flow rate fueling system for a ship berthed in one of said docks comprising storage tanks and means for high-speed pumping of fuel.
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10. The terminal system of claim 1, wherein said terminal structure further comprises a storage and transfer area, adjacent to a dock, containing railroad tracks, and whereby said terminal can transfer containers between one ship berthed in one dock and another ship berthed in another dock, a railroad car on said railroad tracks or a storage area within said storage and transfer area by utilizing said transverse overhead conveyance beams, said elevated ground conveyance rails, and said container transport vehicles under computerized control.
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11. The terminal system of claim 10, further comprising a railroad access to said terminal structure for connection to said railroad tracks in said storage and transfer area.
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12. A terminal system according to claim 11, wherein said railroad access is connected by a tunnel under water to container chutes located in said terminal structure.
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13. A terminal system according to claim 11, wherein said railroad access is connected by a causeway on supports to said terminal structure.
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14. The terminal system of claim 1, wherein said terminal structure further comprises a storage and transfer area, adjacent to a dock, containing a roadway, and whereby said terminal can transfer containers between one ship berthed in one dock and another ship berthed in another dock, a truck on said roadway or a storage area within said storage and transfer area, by utilizing said transverse overhead conveyance beams, said elevated ground conveyance rails, and said container transport vehicles under computerized control.
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15. The terminal system of claim 14, further comprising a truck access to said terminal structure for connection to said roadway in said storage and transfer area.
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16. A terminal system according to claim 15, wherein said truck access is connected by a tunnel under water to container chutes located in said terminal structure.
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17. A terminal system according to claim 15, wherein said truck access is connected by a causeway on supports to said terminal structure.
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18. The terminal system of claim 1, wherein said terminal structure further comprises a storage and transfer area, adjacent to a dock, containing railroad tracks and a roadway, and whereby said terminal can transfer containers among one ship berthed in one dock, another ship berthed in another dock, a railroad car on said railroad tracks, a truck on said roadway, or a storage area within said storage and transfer area, by utilizing said transverse overhead conveyance beams, said elevated ground conveyance rails, and said container transport vehicles under computerized control.
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19. The terminal system of claim 18, further comprising a railroad access and a truck access to said terminal structure for connection to said railroad tracks and roadway in said storage and transfer area.
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20. A terminal system according to claim 19, wherein said railroad access and said truck access are connected by a tunnel under water to container chutes located in said terminal structure.
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21. A terminal system according to claim 19, wherein said railroad access and said truck access are connected by a causeway on supports to said terminal structure.
Specification