Spreader

• US 7,031,883 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSL Engineering Pte., Ltd. (98 Holdings Pte Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Natsteel Engineering Pte Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Chin Thong
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pretlow, Demetrius
• Application Number:
  US10/258,873
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 702/85, 702/105, 702182-183, 702/184, 702/187, 294/81.2, 294/81.21, 294/81.5, 294/81.51, 294/68.3, 212/312, 212/317, 212/223, 212/225, 212/247, 212/248
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/101 for containers B66C1/223 and B66C1/663 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/663 for containers fastening of containers on vehicles B60P7/13, B60P7/132
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/16 Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/18 Control systems or devices exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/00 Safety gear for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/54

Abstract

A spreader for lifting freight containers includes a frame having a number of pickup elements mounted thereon, a processor and a data storage device mounted on the frame. The processor is coupled to an interface device to receive outputs from a number of sensors mounted on the spreader and to store data received from the sensors in the data storage device.

Claims

1. A spreader for lifting freight containers, the spreader comprising a frame having a number of pickup elements mounted thereon, a processor and a data storage device mounted on the frame, the processor being coupled to an interface device to receive outputs from a number of sensors mounted on the spreader and to store data received from the sensors in the data storage device, the data stored being system data accumulated during the operation of the spreader and being indicative of the history of the spreader.

2. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is also coupled to a number of actuation devices on the spreader to permit the processor to control the actuation devices.

3. A spreader according to claim 2, wherein the processor controls the actuation devices in response to signals received from the sensor.

4. A spreader according to claim 2, wherein the actuation devices comprise valves and/or motors.

5. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is adapted to be coupled to a remote control panel, the processor also controlling the actuation devices in response to signals received from the remote control panel via the interface device.

6. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein the processor and the data storage device form part of a single board computer.

7. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device comprises a flash memory device.

8. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise one or more of load cells, ultrasonic sensors, photo-electric detectors and encoders.

9. A spreader according to claim 1, further comprising an output device coupled to the processor to permit data stored in the data storage device to be downloaded to a remote data storage device.

10. A spreader according to claim 1 in which the stored data is stored with an indication of the date and/or time when it was received by the processor.

11. A method performing diagnostic operations and/or preventive maintenance of a spreader for lifting freight containers, the spreader comprising a frame having a number of pickup elements mounted thereon, a processor and a data storage device mounted on the frame, the method including the steps of:

the processor receiving via interface device outputs from a number of sensors mounted on the spreader and storing the data received from the sensors in the data storage device, the data stored being system data accumulated during the operation of the spreader and being indicative of the history of the spreader; and

performing diagnostic operations and/or preventive maintenance of the spreader using the stored data.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the stored data is stored with an indication of the date and/or time when it was received by the processor.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the processor further stores averages, maximums and minimums of the system data over predetermined periods of time.