Container Gantry Crane

Abstract

The invention relates to a container gantry crane comprising a control unit and a coupling system (10) equipped with at least one counterweight winch (11), configured to couple a ship side winch (20) that controls the vertical movement of a ship side spreader (2) with a shore side winch (30) that controls the vertical movement of a shore side spreader (3), wherein the coupling system (10) is configured such that the lowering of one container by one of the spreaders (2, 3) provides an opposing force to the lifting of another container by the other spreader (3, 4).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a gantry crane that loads and unloads transport containers at, for example, ports and railway stations. [Background technology]

[0002] Container gantry cranes, also known as STS (Ship to Shore) cranes, are known for their cutting edge technology and consist of the infrastructure required to load and unload containers at shipping terminals. - a gantry-shaped structure, typically having four columns and at least one cantilevered horizontal beam at its ends; - a rail system on the beam; - a spreader; are usually provided.

[0003] Spreaders are frame-like gripping devices, usually suspended from a trolley that can move along rails on a beam, and their height is controlled by cabling with motor-driven pulleys. Spreaders can be detachably coupled to the four upper corners of a container via anchors, which are electromechanical elements commonly known as twistlocks. They can also have centering means, such as fins known as flippers, that are activated by the crane operator. The centering means allow the spreader to be centered when placed on the container.

[0004] Gantry cranes transfer containers, for example, between docks and container ships. By law, cranes must be manually operated by at least one operator, who is usually located in a cabin at the top of the gantry. When the gantry is at ship level, the operator operates the crane as follows: move the crane with the spreader down to the container to be loaded or unloaded, activate the twist locks to secure the container, lift the container, move it horizontally, and then lower it to deposit it on the dock. If the containers are already on land, they are loaded onto another means of transport (usually a container truck) or stacked.

[0005] It should be noted that in the latest cranes, known as "semi-automatic", the cabin is a virtual representation in an attached control room, and the operator performs loading and unloading remotely.

[0006] Gantry cranes are structures that can reach a maximum height of 140m and weigh more than 20,000 tons. The loading and unloading time for the same container is long, and it is clear that the amount of energy required to operate a gantry crane is large.

[0007] With the aim of reducing energy consumption and loading / unloading time, the gantry cranes disclosed in US3630390 and US5931625 have a spreader at the end of the beam adjacent to the ship (hereinafter referred to as the ship-side spreader), a spreader at the end of the beam adjacent to the ground (hereinafter referred to as the land-side spreader), and a horizontal transport trolley; while the trolley moves a container from the ship side to the land side, the ship-side spreader descends to pick up another container, and the land-side spreader rises to remove the container from the trolley, and then the reverse operation can be performed.

[0008] In another sense, with the intention of reducing energy consumption, document CN105836630 discloses an actuation means arranged to simultaneously raise one spreader and lower another, in an operational connection, thereby utilizing the gravitational potential energy of a descending container to raise the other spreader. However, such actuation means is cumbersome to implement and is not implemented in a standardized manner in current gantry cranes.

[0009] Therefore, it is appropriate to retrofit existing cranes to further reduce energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the invention is a container gantry crane suitable for utilizing the kinetic energy and / or gravitational potential of a container during its lowering for the lifting of another, said gantry crane comprising: - at least one horizontal beam; - a side spreader supported on a side trolley supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams, said side spreader being equipped with a side movable pulley; - winches on the ship's side; a ship side cable portion connected to the ship side movable pulley so as to at least partially surround the ship side movable pulley, one end of which is joined to the ship side winch, wherein the tension of the ship side cable portion exerted by the ship side winch controls the lifting and lowering of the ship side spreader; a land-side spreader supported on a land-side trolley supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams, said land-side spreader being equipped with a land-side movable pulley; - land-side winch; a land-side cable portion connected to the land-side movable pulley so as to at least partially surround the land-side movable pulley, one end of which is joined to the land-side winch, wherein the tension of the land-side cable portion exerted by the land-side winch controls the raising and lowering of the land-side spreader; a horizontal transport trolley supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams, the horizontal transport trolley being adapted to transport containers from one spreader to another; The object of the present invention is to provide a container gantry crane of a type equipped with:

[0011] The claimed gantry crane comprises a control unit and a linkage system equipped with at least one counterweight winch, wherein the other end of the ship side cable portion and the other end of the shore side cable portion are joined to at least one counterweight winch, whereby the counterweight winch is operatively linked to the ship side winch and the shore side winch, and the control unit is configured to control the ship side winch, the shore side winch, and the linkage system, such that the lowering of a container by one of the spreaders provides an opposing force to the lifting of another container by the other spreader.

[0012] This crane configuration allows the energy released by lowering a container to be utilized to lift another container. As expected, this utilization can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the crane. Specifically, the control unit is configured to control the counterweight winch to operatively connect it to the ship's side winch and the shore side winch. This allows the weight of the lowering spreader to at least partially compensate for the weight of the rising spreader, thereby allowing the gravitational potential energy and / or kinetic energy gained by the lowering container to be utilized to lift another container. Other technical effects obtained by utilizing the energy are as follows: - By operating multiple ship-side spreaders and multiple shore-side spreaders in parallel, together with trolleys that can move one or more containers horizontally, without the need to excessively increase the power required for the crane, the efficiency of loading and unloading time can be further multiplied. - By increasing the container lifting speed without the need to excessively increase the energy consumed by the crane, the efficiency of loading and unloading time can be further doubled.

[0013] Preferably, the gantry crane comprises a ship side fixed pulley adjacent to the ship side end of the beam and a land side fixed pulley adjacent to the land side end of the beam, the ship side fixed pulley being at least partially surrounded by the ship side cable portion and the land side fixed pulley being at least partially surrounded by the land side cable portion.

[0014] Alternatively, the ship side cable portion and the shore side cable portion may form part of the same cable or may be two separate cables.

[0015] Preferably the gantry crane comprises an engine room housing the ship side winch, the shore side winch and the hitch system.

[0016] Further preferably, the gantry crane comprises a ship-side trolley winch and a ship-side cable pulley assembly configured to control the movement of the ship-side trolley, while comprising a land-side trolley winch and a land-side cable pulley assembly configured to control the movement of the land-side trolley. Preferably, the engine room also houses the ship-side trolley winch and the land-side trolley winch. Similarly, the gantry crane preferably comprises a horizontal transport trolley winch and a horizontal transport trolley cable pulley assembly configured to control the movement of the horizontal transport trolley. Further, the engine room preferably houses the horizontal transport trolley winch.

[0017] Optionally, the gantry crane may be equipped with regenerative brakes on the spreader and / or horizontal transport trolley, which allow the kinetic energy gained when moving the containers to be recovered by said regenerative brakes.

[0018] Preferably, for the purpose of further automating the crane, the ship-side spreader and the shore-side spreader are equipped with speed and / or position sensors.

[0019] In one possible embodiment, the connection system includes a single counterweight winch to which the cables or cable segments from the shipside winch and the shoreside winch are joined. In another possible embodiment, the connection system may include multiple additional winches, gears, and / or pulleys. For example, the connection system may include two counterweight winches and a gear configured to operatively connect the two counterweight winches. The other end of the shipside cable segment and the other end of the shoreside cable segment are joined to their respective counterweight winches.

[0020] Optionally, at least one of the spreaders includes an electronic scale configured to measure the weight of the corresponding container to be lifted and provide the measurement of the container's weight to the control unit. In this way, the control unit can compare the difference between the weight of the container to be lifted and the weight of the previously lifted container to be lowered by the other spreader, and manage and adjust the speed and / or energy consumed of both spreaders. Similarly, optionally, the horizontal transport trolley can include an electronic scale configured to measure the weight of the corresponding container to be transported and provide the measurement of the container's weight to the control unit. In this way, the trolley can realize other additional functions.

[0021] Although half a century has passed since the development of the first gantry cranes and much innovation has been made in this sector, no crane is known that possesses the above characteristics or offers the above valuable advantages.

[0022] For a better understanding of the description, a series of drawings are provided, which show, by way of schematic and limiting example, an example of an embodiment of the container gantry crane of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a container gantry crane. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the winch assembly and cable pulley assembly that controls the raising and lowering of the spreader of this example embodiment of a gantry crane. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of a winch assembly, and cable pulley assembly, that horizontally displaces the spreader and horizontal transport trolley of this embodiment of a gantry crane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A preferred embodiment of a container gantry crane will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of the gantry crane of the present invention, in which the following can be seen: - double horizontal beam (1), - a ship side spreader (2) supported by a ship side trolley (21) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the horizontal beam (1), a land-side spreader (3) supported on a land-side trolley (31) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the horizontal beam (1); a horizontal transport trolley (4) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the horizontal beam (1), the horizontal transport trolley (4) being adapted to transport containers from one spreader (2, 3) to the other, - An engine compartment (40) housing the various winches (11, 20, 30) described below.

[0026] In this first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the ship-side spreader (2) is equipped with a ship-side movable pulley (22), and the land-side spreader (3) is equipped with a land-side movable pulley (32). - ship's side winch (20); - Landside winch (30), - a coupling system (10) formed by a counterweight winch (11), - a fixed pulley (24) on the ship's side; - a land-side fixed pool (34); a ship's side cable portion (23) whose one end is connected to the ship's side winch (20) and whose other end is connected to the counterweight winch (11), the ship's side cable portion (23) being connected to the ship's side movable pulley (22) and the fixed ship's side pulley (24) so ​​as to partially surround the ship's side movable pulley (22) and the fixed ship's side pulley (24); a land-side cable portion (33) connected at one end to the land-side winch (30) and at the other end to the counterweight winch (11), the land-side cable portion (33) being connected to the land-side movable pulley (32) and the land-side fixed pulley (34) so ​​as to partially surround the land-side movable pulley (32) and the land-side fixed pulley (34); Equipped with.

[0027] A control unit (not shown) controls and couples the raising of the ship-side spreader (2) and the lowering of the land-side spreader (3).

[0028] 3 shows winch assemblies (25, 35, 41) and cable pulley assemblies (26, 36, 42) configured to horizontally move the spreaders (2, 3) and horizontal transport trolley (4) of this embodiment of the gantry crane. In particular, this embodiment includes a ship-side trolley winch (25) and a ship-side cable pulley assembly (26) configured to control the movement of the ship-side trolley (21), while also including a shore-side trolley winch (35) and a shore-side cable pulley assembly (36) configured to control the movement of the shore-side trolley (31). This embodiment also includes a horizontal transport trolley winch (41) and a horizontal transport trolley cable pulley assembly (42) configured to control the movement of the horizontal transport trolley (4) from the trolleys (21, 31) from one spreader (2, 3) to the other. The engine room (40) also houses the shipside trolley winch (24), the shoreside trolley winch (34), and the horizontal transport trolley winch (41).

[0029] In summary, this embodiment of the gantry crane comprises a control unit and a linkage system (10) equipped with a counterweight winch (11), configured to link the ship side winch (20) controlling the vertical movement of the ship side spreader (2) and the shore side winch (30) controlling the vertical movement of the shore side spreader (3), the linkage system (10) being configured such that the lowering of a container by one of the spreaders (2, 3) provides an opposing force to the raising of another container by the other spreader (3, 2).

Claims

1. A container gantry crane (1) suitable for utilizing the kinetic energy and / or gravitational potential of a container during its lowering for the lifting of another, The gantry crane (1) at least one horizontal beam (1); - a side spreader (2) supported on a side trolley (21) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams (1), said side spreader (2) being equipped with a side movable pulley (22); a ship's side winch (20) equipped with a ship's side cable portion (23), the ship's side cable portion (23) being joined at one end to the ship's side winch (20) and being connected to the ship's side movable pulley (22) so as to at least partially surround the ship's side movable pulley (22); a land-side spreader (3) supported on a land-side trolley (31) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams (1), said land-side spreader (3) being equipped with a land-side movable pulley (32); a land-side winch (30) equipped with a land-side cable portion (33), the land-side cable portion (33) being joined at one end to the land-side winch (30) and being connected to the land-side movable pulley (32) so as to at least partially surround the land-side movable pulley (32); a horizontal transport trolley (4) supported in a longitudinally displaceable manner on at least one of said horizontal beams (1), the horizontal transport trolley (4) being adapted to transport containers from one spreader (2, 3) to the other; It is equipped with The gantry crane (1) comprises a control unit and a linkage system (10) equipped with at least one counterweight winch (11), the other end of the ship-side cable portion (23) and the other end of the land-side cable portion (33) are connected to at least one counterweight winch (11); the ship-side winch (20), the shore-side winch (30) and the connection system (10) are configured such that the lowering of a container by one of the spreaders (2, 3) provides an opposing force to the lifting of another container by the other spreader (3, 2); A container gantry crane (1).

2. The ship-side cable portion (23) and the land-side cable portion (33) form part of the same cable. Container gantry crane (1) according to claim 1.

3. The container gantry crane (1) comprises a ship-side fixed pulley (24) adjacent to an end of the beam (1) located on the ship side, and a land-side fixed pulley (34) adjacent to an end of the beam (1) located on the land side, The ship side fixed pulley (24) is at least partially surrounded by the ship side cable portion (23), the land-side fixed pulley (34) is at least partially surrounded by the land-side cable portion (33); Container gantry crane (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. an engine room (40) that houses the ship-side winch (20), the land-side winch (30), and the connection system (10); A container gantry crane (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. a ship-side trolley winch (25) and a ship-side cable and pulley assembly (26) configured to control the movement of the ship-side trolley (21), and a land-side trolley winch (35) and a land-side cable and pulley assembly (36) configured to control the movement of the land-side trolley (31); A container gantry crane (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The engine room (40) accommodates the ship-side trolley winch (24) and the land-side trolley winch (34). Container gantry crane (1) according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4.

7. a horizontal transport trolley winch (41) and a horizontal transport trolley cable and pulley assembly (42) configured to control the movement of the horizontal transport trolley (4); Container gantry crane (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The engine room (40) houses the horizontal transport trolley winch (41). Container gantry crane (1) according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 4.

9. at least one of the spreaders (2, 3) is provided with an electronic scale configured to measure the weight of the corresponding container to be lifted and to provide a measurement of the weight of the container to the control unit; Container gantry crane (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the horizontal transport trolley (4) is equipped with an electronic scale configured to measure the weight of the corresponding container to be transported and to provide the weight measurement of the container to the control unit; Container gantry crane (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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