Container lifting appliance with double-container detection function and container crane

By installing a pressure probe and camera assembly in the middle of the container spreader, the problem of malfunction caused by failure of the spreader's double-box detection system is solved, achieving higher detection accuracy and safety.

CN223342171UActive Publication Date: 2025-09-16SHANGHAI ZHENHUA HEAVY IND
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202422842654.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-11-21
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Estimated Expiration
2034-11-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing container spreaders are prone to malfunction when the double-box detection system fails, causing safety accidents, and the photoelectric switch is easily affected by the environment and fails.

Method used

A pressure probe is set in the middle of the spreader to detect pressure and issue an alarm when no pressure is detected. Combined with the camera component, the container image is obtained and transmitted to the driver's cab to improve detection accuracy.

Benefits of technology

It effectively avoids malfunction when lifting two groups of 20-foot containers, and improves the accuracy of double-container detection and the safety of spreader operation.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN223342171U_ABST
    Figure CN223342171U_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model provides a container lifting appliance with a double-container detection function and a container crane, the container lifting appliance is applied to the container crane, and the container lifting appliance comprises a lifting appliance body; the lifting mechanism is used for controlling the lifting of the lifting appliance body; the two first spin lock assemblies are oppositely arranged at the two ends of the lifting appliance body in the first direction, and the two second spin lock assemblies are arranged in the middle of the lifting appliance body in the first direction; the pressure feeler lever is arranged below the lifting appliance body and located between the two second spin lock assemblies, and the pressure feeler lever is used for stretching out to detect pressure when the two first spin lock assemblies clamp the container; and the alarm is connected with the pressure feeler lever, and the pressure feeler lever is further used for giving an alarm through the alarm when the pressure is not detected. The container lifting appliance disclosed by the utility model can be used for detecting the state of a container below, so that the safety is improved.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of lifting machinery, in particular to a container spreader and a container crane with a double-box detection function. Background Art

[0002] In modern port container handling operations, the container spreader is one of the most frequently used tools on container cranes. Four twistlocks are installed at the four corners and in the middle of the spreader. These can be connected to the top corner fittings of a 40-foot container to lift a 40-foot container. Alternatively, the four corner twistlocks can work in pairs with the four twistlocks in the middle to lift two sets of 20-foot containers simultaneously. A malfunction in the spreader's double-box detection system (i.e., when lifting two 20-foot containers while the spreader is operating in single-box mode for 40-foot containers) can result in serious safety hazards such as broken spreader lock pins and fallen containers, causing unacceptable losses and consequences for container ports. Therefore, photoelectric switches are commonly used for double-box detection on spreaders. However, due to the relatively harsh operating environment of spreaders, photoelectric switches are susceptible to impact from the spreader, vibration and displacement of the mounting bracket, contamination of the switch surface, unusual container types, or damage to the containers, leading to failure of the double-box detection system and consequent malfunction. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the utility model provides a container spreader and a container crane with a double-box detection function, which can improve the accuracy of double-box detection.

[0004] In order to solve at least one of the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] In a first aspect, the utility model provides a container spreader with a double-box detection function, which is applied to a container crane. The container spreader includes:

[0006] A spreader body, wherein the length direction of the spreader body is consistent with the first direction;

[0007] A lifting mechanism is connected to the spreader body and is used to control the lifting of the spreader body;

[0008] Two first twist lock assemblies, the two first twist lock assemblies are arranged at two ends of the spreader body in a first direction relative to each other, and the two first twist lock assemblies are used to clamp or release a 40-foot container;

[0009] Two second twist lock assemblies, the two second twist lock assemblies are arranged in the middle of the spreader body along the first direction, each second twist lock assembly is used to cooperate with a corresponding first twist lock assembly to clamp or release a twenty-foot container;

[0010] A pressure probe is provided below the spreader body and between the two second twistlock assemblies. The pressure probe is used to extend when the two first twistlock assemblies clamp the container to detect pressure.

[0011] The alarm is connected to the pressure probe, and the pressure probe is also used to sound an alarm through the alarm when no pressure is detected.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, each first rotary lock assembly comprises two first rotary locks, and the two first rotary locks are arranged on both sides of the sling body opposite to each other along the second direction;

[0013] Each second rotary lock assembly comprises two second rotary locks, and the two second rotary locks are arranged on both sides of the spreader body opposite to each other along the second direction;

[0014] The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and both the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure probe comprises:

[0016] An external sleeve, which is arranged on the sling body and located between the two second rotary lock assemblies;

[0017] a telescopic drive member, the telescopic drive member being arranged in the external sleeve;

[0018] A probe rod is disposed in an external casing, one end of the probe rod is connected to a telescopic drive member, and a pressure probe is disposed at the other end of the probe rod. The telescopic drive member is used to drive the probe rod to move in a vertical direction so that the pressure probe extends out of the external casing for pressure detection. The pressure probe is used to sound an alarm through an alarm when no pressure is detected;

[0019] The telescopic driving member is further used to drive the probe rod to retract in the vertical direction when the pressure detected by the pressure probe is greater than a threshold value.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the container spreader with double-box detection function further includes:

[0021] A camera assembly is provided below the spreader body and is used to obtain images of the container below the spreader body;

[0022] A transmission component, one end of the transmission component is connected to the camera component, and the other end of the transmission component is connected to the driver's cab. The transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the camera component to the driver's cab.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the camera assembly includes:

[0024] Sea side camera;

[0025] The land side camera, the sea side camera and the land side camera are arranged relative to each other along the second direction and located between the two second rotary lock assemblies. The sea side camera and the land side camera are used to respectively obtain images of the container under the spreader body.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission assembly includes:

[0027] A seaside transmission component, one end of which is connected to the seaside camera, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab. The seaside transmission component is used to transmit container images obtained by the seaside camera to the driver's cab;

[0028] The landside transmission component has one end connected to the landside camera and the other end connected to the driver's cab. The landside transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the landside camera to the driver's cab.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, the seaside transmission assembly includes:

[0030] A sea-side cable, wherein the input end of the sea-side cable is connected to the sea-side camera;

[0031] A sea-side surge protector connected to the input end of the sea-side cable;

[0032] The sea side video decoder has one end connected to the output end of the sea side cable, and the other end connected to the driver's cab.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the landside transmission assembly includes:

[0034] Landside cable, the input end of the landside cable is connected to the landside camera;

[0035] A land-side surge protector connected to the input end of the land-side cable;

[0036] The land-side video decoder has one end connected to the output end of the land-side cable, and the other end connected to the driver's cab.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the alarm is a buzzer alarm.

[0038] In a second aspect, the present invention further provides a container crane, comprising the container spreader with a double-box detection function according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0039] The above technical solution of the utility model has at least one of the following beneficial effects:

[0040] This utility model's container spreader with double-box detection features a pressure probe positioned in the middle of the spreader. When the spreader's main body, through two first twistlock assemblies, clamps a container, the pressure probe extends to detect pressure. If no pressure is detected, an alarm sounds. This prevents the situation where two sets of twenty-foot containers are clamped when only two first twistlock assemblies are clamping. This effectively improves the accuracy of double-box detection and the safety of the spreader during operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 A bottom view of a container spreader with a double-box detection function in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 This is a front view of a container spreader with a double-box detection function in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the pressure probe rod of the container spreader with double-box detection function in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit structure in which the image signal of the container spreader with double-box detection function is transmitted from the camera to the driver's cab in some embodiments of the present invention;

[0045] Reference numerals:

[0046] 100. Spreader body; 101. Driver's cab;

[0047] 200, first rotary lock assembly; 210, first rotary lock; 300, second rotary lock assembly; 310, second rotary lock;

[0048] 400, pressure probe; 410, external casing; 420, telescopic drive member; 430, probe; 431, pressure probe;

[0049] 510, sea side camera; 520, land side camera;

[0050] 611. Sea-side cable; 612. Sea-side surge protector; 613. Sea-side video decoder; 621. Land-side cable; 622. Land-side surge protector; 623. Land-side video decoder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the described embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0052] First, a container spreader with a double-box detection function according to an embodiment of the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the container spreader with double-box detection function according to the embodiment of the present invention may include: a spreader body 100, a lifting mechanism, two first twist lock assemblies 200, two second twist lock assemblies 300, a pressure probe 400 and an alarm. The length direction of the spreader body 100 is consistent with the first direction; the lifting mechanism is connected to the spreader body 100, and the lifting mechanism is used to control the lifting of the spreader body 100; the two first rotary lock assemblies 200 are arranged at both ends of the spreader body 100 relative to each other along the first direction, and the two first rotary lock assemblies 200 are used to clamp or release a 40-foot container; the two second rotary lock assemblies 300 are arranged in the middle of the spreader body 100 along the first direction, and each second rotary lock assembly 300 is used to cooperate with its corresponding first rotary lock assembly 200 to clamp or release a 20-foot container; the pressure probe 400 is arranged below the spreader body 100 and located between the two second rotary lock assemblies 300, and the pressure probe 400 is used to extend to detect pressure when the two first rotary lock assemblies 200 clamp the container; the alarm is connected to the pressure probe 400, and the pressure probe 400 is also used to issue an alarm through the alarm when no pressure is detected.

[0054] In this embodiment, when the lifting mechanism drives the spreader body 100 downward to grab a container, if two first twistlock assemblies 200 and two second twistlock assemblies 300 are used to clamp two 20-foot containers, the system is in normal operation, and the pressure probe 400 does not need to be extended. However, if two first twistlock assemblies 200 are used to clamp a container, the pressure probe 400 will be extended. If the two first twistlock assemblies 200 are clamping a 40-foot container, the pressure probe 400 will contact the 40-foot container upon extension, detecting pressure. Since the system is in normal operation, the pressure probe 400 will not sound an alarm. If the two first twistlock assemblies 200 are clamping two sets of 20-foot containers, due to the gap between the two sets of 20-foot containers, the pressure probe 400 will extend into the gap between the two sets of 20-foot containers, and no pressure will be detected. This indicates that the spreader body 100 is in 40-foot container mode and is grabbing two sets of 20-foot containers. The pressure probe 400 can then sound an alarm, prompting the operator to terminate the operation. This can improve the accuracy of double-box detection and the safety of operation.

[0055] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, each first rotary lock assembly 200 includes two first rotary locks 210, and the two first rotary locks 210 are relatively arranged on both sides of the sling body 100 along the second direction; each second rotary lock assembly 300 includes two second rotary locks 310, and the two second rotary locks 310 are relatively arranged on both sides of the sling body 100 along the second direction; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction and the second direction are both perpendicular to the vertical direction.

[0056] Specifically, the first twistlocks 210 and the second twistlocks 310 are matched with the corner fittings at the four corners of the container top. Therefore, when the four first twistlocks 210 are locked, a 40-foot container can be lifted. When the first twistlocks 210 and the second twistlocks 310 are locked in pairs, two groups of 20-foot containers can be lifted.

[0057] like Figure 3As shown, the pressure probe 400 includes an external sleeve 410, a telescopic drive 420, and a probe 430. The external sleeve 410 is disposed on the sling body 100 and between the two second rotary lock assemblies 300; the telescopic drive 420 is disposed within the external sleeve 410; and the probe 430 is disposed within the external sleeve 410. One end of the probe 430 is connected to the telescopic drive 420, and the other end of the probe 430 is provided with a pressure probe 431. The telescopic drive 420 is used to drive the probe 430 to move vertically so that the pressure probe 431 extends out of the external sleeve 410 for pressure detection. The pressure probe 431 is used to sound an alarm through an alarm if no pressure is detected. The telescopic drive 420 is also used to drive the probe 430 to retract vertically when the pressure detected by the pressure probe 431 exceeds a threshold.

[0058] In this embodiment, the telescopic drive member 420 can be a hydraulic drive member or an electrical drive member, which is not limited here. When the spreader body 100 is not in operation, the probe rod 430 is driven to retract into the external sleeve 410 by the telescopic drive member 420, thereby preventing the probe rod 430 from interfering with other objects during the movement of the container crane. When the spreader body 100 descends to clamp the container, the telescopic drive member 420 can drive the probe rod 430 to extend, detect the pressure through the pressure probe 431, and issue an alarm when the pressure is detected, thereby effectively improving safety. When the pressure detected by the pressure probe 431 is greater than a threshold value (for example, the threshold value can be 30N), the telescopic drive member 420 can drive the probe rod 430 to retract, thereby preventing the probe rod 430 from bending and increasing the service life of the probe rod 430.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the container spreader with dual-container detection also includes a camera assembly and a transmission assembly. The camera assembly is located below the spreader body 100 and is used to capture images of the containers below the spreader body 100. The transmission assembly is connected to the camera assembly at one end and to the driver's cab 101 at the other end, transmitting the container images captured by the camera assembly to the driver's cab 101.

[0060] In this embodiment, the camera assembly can cooperate with the pressure probe 400 to perform double-box detection. The camera assembly can obtain the image of the container under the spreader body 100 and transmit it to the driver's cab 101 through the transmission assembly, so that the operator can judge the working condition of the spreader body 100 through the image, thereby further improving safety.

[0061] like Figure 1As shown, the camera assembly includes a seaside camera 510 and a landside camera 520. The seaside camera 510 and the landside camera 520 are positioned opposite each other along the second direction and between the two second twistlock assemblies 300. The seaside camera 510 and the landside camera 520 are respectively used to capture images of the container beneath the spreader body 100. By capturing images of the container from the seaside and landside, respectively, the operator's monitoring perspective can be expanded, improving safety.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission component includes: a sea-side transmission component, one end of the sea-side transmission component is connected to the sea-side camera 510, and the other end of the sea-side transmission component is connected to the driver's cab 101, and the sea-side transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the sea-side camera 510 to the driver's cab 101; a land-side transmission component, one end of the land-side transmission component is connected to the land-side camera 520, and the other end of the land-side transmission component is connected to the driver's cab 101, and the land-side transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the land-side camera 520 to the driver's cab 101.

[0063] Specifically, if Figure 4 As shown, the seaside transmission component may include: a seaside cable 611, a seaside surge protector 612, and a seaside video decoder 613. The input end of the seaside cable 611 is connected to the seaside camera 510; the seaside surge protector 612 is connected to the input end of the seaside cable 611; one end of the seaside video decoder 613 is connected to the output end of the seaside cable 611, and the other end of the seaside video decoder 613 is connected to the driver's cab 101. The landside transmission component may include: a landside cable 621, a landside surge protector 622, and a landside video decoder 623. The input end of the landside cable 621 is connected to the landside camera 520; the landside surge protector 622 is connected to the input end of the landside cable 621; one end of the landside video decoder 623 is connected to the output end of the landside cable 621, and the other end of the landside video decoder 623 is connected to the driver's cab 101.

[0064] In this embodiment, the seaside surge protector 612 and the landside surge protector 622 protect the equipment from lightning electromagnetic radiation, ensuring the stability of image transmission. The seaside video decoder 613 and the landside video decoder 623 decode the image and transmit it to the display in the driver's cab 101.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present invention, the alarm is a buzzer alarm. By reminding the operator through the alarm, safety during operation can be effectively improved.

[0066] In a second aspect, the present invention further provides a container crane, comprising the container spreader with a double-box detection function according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0067] In summary, the container spreader with double-box detection of the present invention utilizes a pressure probe 400 disposed in the middle of the spreader. When the spreader body 100, through the two first twistlock assemblies 200, clamps a container, the pressure probe 400 is driven to extend to detect pressure. If no pressure is detected, an alarm is sounded. This prevents the situation where two sets of twenty-foot containers are clamped when only the two first twistlock assemblies 200 are clamping a container. This effectively improves the accuracy of double-box detection and the safety of the spreader during operation.

[0068] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this utility model shall have the usual meanings understood by persons of ordinary skill in the field to which this utility model belongs. The words "first", "second" and similar terms used in this utility model do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Similarly, words such as "one" or "a" do not indicate a quantity limitation, but rather indicate the existence of at least one. Words such as "connected" or "connected" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship also changes accordingly.

[0069] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A container spreader with double-box detection function, characterized in that: Applied to container crane, the container spreader comprises: a sling body, wherein the length direction of the sling body is consistent with the first direction; A lifting mechanism connected to the spreader body, the lifting mechanism being used to control the lifting of the spreader body; Two first twist lock assemblies, the two first twist lock assemblies are arranged opposite to each other at two ends of the spreader body along the first direction, and the two first twist lock assemblies are used to clamp or release a 40-foot container; Two second twist lock assemblies, the two second twist lock assemblies being arranged in the middle of the spreader body along the first direction, each second twist lock assembly being configured to cooperate with a respective first twist lock assembly to clamp or release a twenty-foot container; a pressure probe, the pressure probe being arranged below the spreader body and between the two second twist lock assemblies, the pressure probe being configured to extend to detect pressure when the two first twist lock assemblies clamp a container; An alarm is connected to the pressure probe, and the pressure probe is also used to issue an alarm through the alarm when no pressure is detected.

2. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the first rotary lock assemblies comprises two first rotary locks, and the two first rotary locks are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the spreader body along the second direction; Each of the second rotary lock assemblies comprises two second rotary locks, and the two second rotary locks are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the spreader body along the second direction; The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and both the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to the vertical direction.

3. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure probe comprises: an external sleeve, the external sleeve being arranged on the spreader body and being located between the two second rotary lock assemblies; a telescopic driving member, the telescopic driving member being disposed in the external sleeve; a probe rod, the probe rod being disposed within the external sleeve, one end of the probe rod being connected to the telescopic drive member, the other end of the probe rod being provided with a pressure probe, the telescopic drive member being used to drive the probe rod to move in a vertical direction so that the pressure probe extends out of the external sleeve for pressure detection, the pressure probe being used to issue an alarm through the alarm device when no pressure is detected; The telescopic driving member is further used to drive the probe rod to retract in a vertical direction when the pressure detected by the pressure probe is greater than a threshold value.

4. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: a camera assembly, the camera assembly being disposed below the spreader body and configured to acquire an image of a container below the spreader body; A transmission component, one end of which is connected to the camera component, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab, and the transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the camera component to the driver's cab.

5. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 4, characterized in that: The camera assembly includes: Sea side camera; The land side camera is arranged opposite to the sea side camera and the land side camera along the second direction and is located between the two second rotary lock components. The sea side camera and the land side camera are used to respectively obtain images of the container under the spreader body.

6. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transmission component includes: a seaside transmission component, one end of which is connected to the seaside camera, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab, and the seaside transmission component is used to transmit container images acquired by the seaside camera to the driver's cab; A landside transmission component, one end of which is connected to the landside camera, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab, wherein the landside transmission component is used to transmit the container image obtained by the landside camera to the driver's cab.

7. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 6, characterized in that: The seaside transmission assembly includes: a sea-side cable, wherein an input end of the sea-side cable is connected to the sea-side camera; a sea-side surge protector connected to an input end of the sea-side cable; A sea-side video decoder, one end of which is connected to the output end of the sea-side cable, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab.

8. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 7, characterized in that: The landside transmission assembly includes: a landside cable, wherein an input end of the landside cable is connected to the landside camera; a land-side surge protector connected to an input end of the land-side cable; A land-side video decoder, one end of which is connected to the output end of the land-side cable, and the other end of which is connected to the driver's cab.

9. The container spreader with double-box detection function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The alarm is a buzzer alarm.

10. A container crane, characterized in that: A container spreader with a double-box detection function comprising the above-mentioned claim 1 or 9.