A container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with position sensor

Abstract

This utility model discloses a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor, relating to the field of container loading and unloading safety equipment. It includes a sensor assembly, a control unit, an actuator, and a human-machine interface component installed on the spreader. The sensor assembly includes position sensors (displacement, height) and load cells for collecting position and weight information. The control unit consists of a control box, an instrument box, and a data acquisition box, processing sensor signals and generating commands. The actuator includes a lock drive device and a braking device to achieve F-TR lock opening and closing and precise spreader hovering. The human-machine interface component includes a touch screen and a voice prompt device for information display and prompts. This device, through high-precision sensing and automatic control, replaces manual operation, solving the problems of reliance on manual labor, low accuracy, low efficiency, and susceptibility to snagging and misloading in existing technologies, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of container loading and unloading.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of container loading and unloading safety equipment, specifically to a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor. Background Technology

[0002] In container loading and unloading operations at railway freight yards, port terminals, logistics centers, and stations, the F-TR lock, as a key component connecting containers and transport vehicles, directly affects operational safety and efficiency through its secure locking and unlocking. However, existing F-TR lock anti-snagging and loading / unloading control technologies have several shortcomings, specifically as follows:

[0003] Currently, in most container loading and unloading operations in China, the anti-snagging mechanism of F-TR locks mainly relies on visual observation by ground personnel, who then use walkie-talkies to instruct the driver to operate the spreader. Even experienced drivers need to verify safety by performing trial lifts at the lowest setting. This manual judgment-dependent approach not only poses significant risks to human safety, but is also highly unreliable due to factors such as personnel experience and attention span. Furthermore, the cumbersome operational process severely restricts loading and unloading efficiency.

[0004] Some manufacturers have tried to use force sensors to assist in anti-snagging control, but the existing force sensors have low accuracy and the collected container weight and force data are not accurate enough to support the construction of a scientific mechanical model. This leads to a lag or misjudgment in the assessment of snagging risks, and cannot effectively ensure operational safety.

[0005] In terms of positioning and location detection, existing domestic technologies mostly use switch sensors, which have poor position detection accuracy and cannot achieve precise alignment between the spreader and the container. This not only affects loading and unloading efficiency, but also easily leads to malfunctions of the F-TR lock switch due to alignment deviation, increasing the risk of entanglement. At the same time, due to the lack of accurate position and weight coordinated detection, it is also easy to have accidents such as mixed loading of empty and loaded containers or incorrect loading, further aggravating operational safety hazards.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the problems of existing technologies such as reliance on manual labor, insufficient sensor accuracy, inaccurate positioning, and easy occurrence of misloading and mixing, there is an urgent need for an F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device that integrates high-precision position detection, reliable control, and efficient human-machine interaction to improve the safety and efficiency of container loading and unloading operations. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor, which achieves high-precision positioning, automatic control and safety early warning through structural optimization, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of container loading and unloading operations.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor, comprising a sensor assembly, a control unit, an actuator, and a human-machine interface component installed on the container spreader; the sensor assembly is electrically connected to the control unit, and the control unit is electrically connected to both the actuator and the human-machine interface component; the sensor assembly includes a position sensor for detecting the container's position and a weighing sensor for detecting the container's weight; the actuator includes a lock drive device for controlling the F-TR lock's switch and a braking device for controlling the spreader's hovering.

[0009] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the position sensor includes a displacement sensor and a height sensor, the displacement sensor is installed on both sides of the lateral side of the lifting device, and the height sensor is installed at the center of the bottom of the lifting device.

[0010] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the weighing sensor has 4 channels, which are respectively installed at the lifting points at the four corners of the lifting device, and each channel of the weighing sensor is connected to the control unit through a wire.

[0011] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the control unit includes a control box, an instrument box, and a data acquisition box. The control box contains a processor module, the instrument box contains a high-precision AD converter, and the data acquisition box contains a signal filtering circuit. The data acquisition box is connected to the sensor assembly and the instrument box, respectively, and the instrument box is connected to the control box.

[0012] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, a relay module is provided between the control box and the actuator, and the relay module is electrically connected to the lock drive device and the braking device respectively.

[0013] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the human-machine interaction component includes a touch screen and a voice prompt device. Both the touch screen and the voice prompt device are installed in the driver's cab and are connected to the control unit via RS232 or RS485 bus.

[0014] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, a button conversion box is also included. The button conversion box is installed in the driver's cab and electrically connected to the control unit. The button conversion box is provided with a gear adjustment button and a region selection button.

[0015] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the lock driving device includes an unlocking motor and a locking motor. The unlocking motor and the locking motor are respectively connected to the unlocking mechanism and the locking mechanism of the F-TR lock, and are both electrically connected to the control unit.

[0016] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the braking device includes an electromagnetic brake, which is installed on the lifting drive shaft of the lifting device and electrically connected to the control unit.

[0017] As a further improvement to the technical solution of this utility model, the control box, instrument box and data acquisition box are all connected by waterproof cables. The waterproof cables include 2-core, 3-core and 5-core specifications, wherein the 2-core cable is used to transmit DC24V power, the 3-core cable is used to transmit control signals and the 5-core cable is used to transmit sensor data.

[0018] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] This invention achieves automated control of the F-TR lock's anti-snagging mechanism by setting high-precision position and weighing sensors, combined with the coordinated action of the control unit and the actuator. This reduces manual intervention and improves operational safety. By optimizing the connection structure and installation position of each component, it ensures the stability of data transmission and the accuracy of control, effectively improving operational efficiency and preventing accidents caused by incorrect or mixed installations. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Other features, objects, and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 is a system architecture diagram of a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the present invention are used to explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, upper end, lower end, top, bottom, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0024] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] Furthermore, in this utility model, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0026] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Referring to Figure 1, a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor includes a sensor assembly, a control unit, an actuator, and a human-machine interface component installed on the container spreader. The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the control unit and is used to collect the container's position and weight information and transmit it to the control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to both the actuator and the human-machine interface component, and is used to receive signals from the sensor assembly and generate control commands, while simultaneously feeding back information to the human-machine interface component. The actuator is used to execute the control commands, thereby opening and closing the F-TR lock and suspending the spreader. The human-machine interface component is used to display information and issue prompts.

[0028] The sensor assembly includes position sensors and load cells. Position sensors, including displacement and height sensors, are used to detect the container's position. Displacement sensors are installed on both sides of the spreader's lateral side to monitor the relative lateral position of the spreader and container in real time, ensuring the spreader's center coincides with the container's center laterally. Height sensors are installed at the center of the spreader's bottom to detect the vertical distance between the spreader and container, enabling precise hovering control. The load cells have four channels, installed at the four corners of the spreader's lifting points, to detect the container's weight and determine its empty / loaded status. Each load cell channel is connected to the control unit via wires to ensure stable transmission of weight data.

[0029] The control unit comprises a control box, an instrument box, and a data acquisition box, which are connected by a waterproof cable. The data acquisition box contains a signal filtering circuit to filter the raw signals acquired by the sensor components, reducing interference. The instrument box contains a high-precision AD converter to convert the filtered analog signals into digital signals. The control box contains a processor module to receive digital signals, perform calculations, and generate control commands.

[0030] The actuator includes a lock drive unit and a braking unit. The lock drive unit includes an unlocking motor and a locking motor, which are respectively connected to the unlocking and locking mechanisms of the F-TR lock to control the opening and closing actions of the F-TR lock. The braking unit includes an electromagnetic brake, mounted on the lifting drive shaft of the lifting device, used to control the lifting speed and hovering of the lifting device. The electromagnetic brake is electrically connected to the control unit and can achieve rapid braking or precise hovering of the lifting device under control commands (the hovering height can be controlled to approximately 100mm). A relay module is provided between the control box and the actuator to amplify the control signal and ensure reliable operation of the actuator.

[0031] The human-machine interface components include a touchscreen and a voice prompt device, both installed in the driver's cab. The touchscreen is connected to the control unit via an RS232 or RS485 bus to display work data (such as workload, number of hovering times, alarm information, etc.); the voice prompt device is electrically connected to the control unit to issue voice alarms in abnormal situations.

[0032] The device also includes a button conversion box, which is installed in the driver's cab and electrically connected to the control unit. It is equipped with a gear adjustment button (for adjusting the lifting gear of the spreader) and an area selection button (for selecting the work area), which allows the driver to manually intervene in the operation process.

[0033] The waterproof cables between the control box, instrument box, and data acquisition box include 2-core, 3-core, and 5-core specifications. The 2-core cable is used to transmit DC24V power, the 3-core cable is used to transmit control signals, and the 5-core cable is used to transmit sensor data, ensuring a stable connection between the components.

[0034] The specific implementation methods of this utility model will be further described below in conjunction with actual use scenarios.

[0035] Reference Figure 1This invention discloses a container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with position sensors, illustrating the overall components and connections of the invention. It includes a touchscreen and button conversion box in the driver's cab, position sensors and load cells on the spreader, and control boxes, instrument boxes, and data acquisition boxes in the electrical room. All components are connected by cables of different specifications. The displacement sensors are laser displacement sensors (model LDS-500), installed 50cm from the ends on both sides of the spreader; the height sensors are ultrasonic ranging sensors (model US-100), installed at the center of the bottom of the spreader; and the load cells are strain gauge load cells with a range of 0-50t, with four channels installed on the lifting point connection plates at the four corners of the spreader.

[0036] The processor module in the control box uses an STM32H743 microprocessor, the high-precision AD converter in the instrument box is an ADS1256, and the signal filtering circuit in the acquisition box uses an RC low-pass filter circuit with a cutoff frequency of 10Hz.

[0037] The unlocking motor and locking motor of the lock drive device are both DC geared motors, model 57ZYT56, which are connected to the unlocking rod and locking rod of the F-TR lock through a gear transmission mechanism, respectively; the electromagnetic brake of the braking device is model DZD5-200, which is installed on the output shaft of the lifting motor of the lifting device.

[0038] The touch screen is a 10.1-inch industrial touch screen, model TPC1061Ti, and the voice prompter uses the YS-V10 voice module; the button conversion box has 5 gear adjustment buttons (corresponding to gears 1-5) and 2 area selection buttons (corresponding to empty box area and full box area).

[0039] The waterproof cable uses RVVP shielded cable. The cross-sectional area of ​​the 2-core cable is 0.75mm², and the cross-sectional area of ​​the 3-core and 5-core cables is 1.0mm². The shipped cable includes one 20-meter 2-core cable, one 10-meter 3-core cable, and one 20-meter 5-core cable.

[0040] The connections of each component are as follows: the position sensor and the load cell are connected to the data acquisition box via a 5-core cable; the data acquisition box is connected to the instrument box via a 3-core cable; the instrument box is connected to the control box via an RS485 bus; the control box is connected to the DC24V power supply via a 2-core cable and is connected to the unlocking motor, the locking motor, and the electromagnetic brake via relay modules; the touch screen is connected to the control box via an RS232 bus; and the voice prompt and button conversion box are connected to the control box via wires.

[0041] The working process of this utility model:

[0042] During operation, the sensor components collect the container's position and weight information in real time. After filtering by the data acquisition box, the information is transmitted to the instrument box for analog-to-digital conversion. The converted digital signal is then sent to the processor module in the control box. The processor module analyzes the signal and generates control commands if it detects potential hook-up risks or positional deviations: controlling the opening and closing status of the F-TR lock via the lock drive device, and controlling the spreader to hover or decelerate via the braking device. At the same time, the touch screen displays real-time data, the voice prompts issue corresponding prompts, and the driver can also perform manual operation via the button conversion box.

[0043] In summary, this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0044] This invention achieves automated control of the F-TR lock's anti-snagging mechanism by setting high-precision position and weighing sensors, combined with the coordinated action of the control unit and the actuator. This reduces manual intervention and improves operational safety. By optimizing the connection structure and installation position of each component, it ensures the stability of data transmission and the accuracy of control, effectively improving operational efficiency and preventing accidents caused by incorrect or mixed installations.

[0045] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the embodiments of this utility model. The description of the above embodiments is only for helping to understand the principles of the embodiments of this utility model. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the embodiments of this utility model. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

Claims

1. A container F-TR lock anti-hooking safety device with position sensor, characterized by: The device includes a sensor assembly, a control unit, an actuator, and a human-machine interface component installed on a container spreader. The sensor assembly is electrically connected to the control unit, and the control unit is electrically connected to both the actuator and the human-machine interface component. The sensor assembly includes a position sensor for detecting the position of the container and a weighing sensor for detecting the weight of the container. The actuator includes a lock drive device for controlling the F-TR lock switch and a braking device for controlling the suspension of the spreader.

2. A container F-TR lock anti-hooking safety device with position sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The position sensor includes a displacement sensor and a height sensor. The displacement sensor is installed on both sides of the spreader in the lateral direction, and the height sensor is installed at the center of the bottom of the spreader.

3. A container F-TR lock anti-hooking safety device with position sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that: The weighing sensor has four channels, which are installed at the lifting points at the four corners of the lifting device, and each channel of the weighing sensor is connected to the control unit through a wire.

4. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control unit includes a control box, an instrument box, and a data acquisition box. The control box contains a processor module, the instrument box contains a high-precision AD converter, and the data acquisition box contains a signal filtering circuit. The data acquisition box is connected to the sensor assembly and the instrument box, and the instrument box is connected to the control box.

5. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: A relay module is provided between the control box and the actuator, and the relay module is electrically connected to the lock drive device and the braking device respectively.

6. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that: The human-machine interface component includes a touch screen and a voice prompt device, both of which are installed in the driver's cab and connected to the control unit via an RS232 or RS485 bus.

7. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that: It also includes a button conversion box, which is installed in the driver's cab and electrically connected to the control unit. The button conversion box is equipped with a gear adjustment button and a zone selection button.

8. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 1 characterized in that: The lock drive device includes an unlocking motor and a locking motor, which are respectively connected to the unlocking mechanism and the locking mechanism of the F-TR lock, and are both electrically connected to the control unit.

9. A container F-TR lock anti-snagging safety device with a position sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The braking device includes an electromagnetic brake, which is mounted on the lifting drive shaft of the lifting device and electrically connected to the control unit.

10. A container F-TR lock anti-pick safety device with position sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that: The control box, instrument box, and data acquisition box are all connected by waterproof cables. The waterproof cables include 2-core, 3-core, and 5-core specifications, where the 2-core cable is used to transmit DC24V power, the 3-core cable is used to transmit control signals, and the 5-core cable is used to transmit sensor data.

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