Freight Container Transfer System With Chain Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for transferring freight containers between trucks and railway freight cars are inefficient, costly, and complex, with high energy consumption and high terminal investment costs, limiting their widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
A transfer system using at least two grabber arms movable by an endless chain driven by a drive wheel, with tensioner wheels hinged to a shaft for symmetrical tensioning, allowing flexible movement in both directions and enabling horizontal and transverse transfer of containers between vehicles, reducing the need for extensive infrastructure and energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lifting cranes are used to transfer containers between trucks and railway freight cars, then transfer capability is achieved, but installation and operation costs become expensive and locations are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional lifting cranes with a mechanical transfer system consisting of a transfer vehicle, container supports, and coupling mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive crane infrastructure while achieving the same container transfer capability between trucks and railway freight cars.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transfer vehicle as an intermediary device between trucks and railway freight cars. This transfer vehicle serves as a mediator that receives containers from trucks and loads them onto railway cars, simplifying the overall transfer process and reducing infrastructure requirements.
2Productivity
If traditional container transfer systems are used, then containers can be transferred, but energy consumption is high and operational efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs container supports that allow containers to be transferred at substantially the same height between trucks and railway freight cars. This equipotential transfer mechanism minimizes the need for lifting and lowering operations, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining high operational efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If special railway wagons with swivel functionality are used, then container transfer is enabled, but terminal investment costs become huge and extensive parking areas are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the container transfer system into separate functional components: a transfer vehicle, container supports, and coupling mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and eliminates the need for expensive specialized railway wagons with integrated swivel functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer vehicle is designed as a universal device that can handle containers of different sizes and transfer them between different types of vehicles (trucks and various railway freight car configurations). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized equipment for different container types.
4Ease of manufacture
If containers are transferred using complex transfer systems, then transfer capability is achieved, but the systems are difficult and expensive to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer system is designed with simple mechanical components that can be easily maintained and repaired by standard workshop facilities. The modular design allows for easy replacement of wear parts, and the system does not require specialized maintenance equipment or highly trained technicians.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easy to operate, allowing flexible container transfer regardless of vehicle orientation, significantly reducing energy consumption and terminal investment costs while increasing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
each of the tensioner wheels being hinged to a shaft, which is tensioned by a spring force or hydraulic cylinder and piston means
Implementation Method 2
each of the tensioner wheels being hinged to a shaft, which is tensioned by a spring force or hydraulic cylinder and piston means
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention pertains to a transfer system (2) for horizontally and transversally transferring a freight container between a railway freight car (52) and a vehicle (66). The transfer system is placed on the vehicle and comprises at least two grabber arms (4) which are movable only in a direction transversal to the longitudinal extension of said vehicle. The movement of the grabber arms is accomplished by an endless chain (6) driven by a drive wheel (8) connected to a drive motor. Two tensioner wheels (10) are placed at each side of said drive wheel, where said tensioner wheels cooperate with the chain in such a way that one or the other tensioner wheel causes a tightening of the chain in dependence of whether the chain is driven in one or the other direction. The invention also pertains to a method of transferring a freight container between a railway freight car and a vehicle.