WO1995034491A1

WO1995034491A1 - Four-chain paternoster cargo handling system

Info

Publication number: WO1995034491A1
Application number: PCT/IB1994/000163
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Spalatin
Original assignee: Macgregor (Fin) Oy
Priority date: 1994-06-16
Filing date: 1994-06-16
Publication date: 1995-12-21

Abstract

The invention refers to a four-chains paternoster cargo handling system, being kind of cargo lifting and continuously transferring working facility. It is composed of four-chains paternoster drive, of one or more movable cargo handling/transferring platforms, of at least one stationary platform receiving cargo and of at least one stationary platform delivering cargo. All platforms are fitted with cargo supports, very often forks, which could be equipped with cargo transfer devices, active conveyors or passive rotating elements. Design and disposition of cargo supports on any pair of one stationary and one movable platform is complementary and enables, when these platforms are by-passing each other, full penetration of their supports so that they can deliver a cargo to each other. Each movable platform respectively each cantilever beam, fitted on each platform side, is suspended on two paternoster chains, and thanks to the arrangement of chains and their chain wheels makes transiting of cantilever beams, between chains and wheels, possible.

Description

FOUR - CHAIN PATERNOSTER CARGO HANDLING SYSTEM

The invention relates to the cranes and conveyors.

The patent protection is required for the cargo handling system which by means of four-chain paternoster drive as well transfer & loading fork platforms enables continuous handling of different heavy weight cargo, especially on ships and in ports.

Existing systems for the continuous handling of cargo very often are not suitable for different and heavy weight cargoes. Most of them can not by simple reversing of their relative direction of movement, change on-loading operation in off¬ loading and opposite.

The advantage of the existing cargo systems with a paternoster drive exists only if they can stopless move and if can secure acceptable platform stability. This is why the paternoster drive found its most frequent application as a personal elevator, where a transfer is performed without stops and where a relatively small cargo weight does not require from moving cabins to high stability conditions.

For handling of cargo the paternoster drive has no advantages at all; for each transfer of cargo from or to platforms the drive should stop; the existing two-chains suspension of the transfer platform and if with heavy weight generates high reactive moments respectively friction resistance in vertical guides.

The invention in fact envisages the cargo handling system composed of the paternβster drive, at least one movable fork platform for transfer of cargo suspended on the paternoster chains and at least two stationary fork platform for loading of cargo. The cargo handling system is transferring by the movable platform the cargo from one (receiving) to the other (delivering) stationary platform. This is performed so that by an outside gear (crane, fork lift truck) the cargo, which should be transferred, is loaded firstly on the receiving stationary platform. The movable platform by approaching from below is by-passing and penetrating the before mentioned stationary receiving platform and on this way taking over the cargo which has been loaded there before. After changing of a direction of the movement, from upwards to downwards, the movable platform by approaching from above is by-passing and penetrating the other stationary platform and delivering so to this the transferred cargo.

The reciprocal penetration of two by-passing platforms is possible thanks to the design and arrangement of platforms• forks, being complementary between them.

The change of the movement direction from upwards to downwards is performed by the stopless passing of the movable platform over the upper or lower turning parts of the paternoster trajectory, within which the absolute direction of the trajectory changes.

The passage of the suspended transferring platform through the upper or the lower part of the paternoster trajectory is possible thanks to the platform side cantilever beams and their connection to the sprocket chains of the paternoster as well as to the arrangement of the driving and leading sprocket chain wheels.

The sprocket wheels lead and drive totally four separate sprocket chains. On the each opposite side of the paternoster hatch, within a space where the chains with one or more suspended platforms are moving, there are two paternoster chains. Each of them is mounted on at least four sprocket wheels, one of them in each corner of a designed paternoster trajectory. Two sprocket wheels of each chain are coaxially placed and wedged on the same mutual shaft. Chains fitted on each hatch side are distanced between them so that the platform side cantilever beam can pass between them during its transiting around the upper or lower paternoster trajectory turning parts.

The invention makes possible the following :

Handling of different heavy cargo without stopping of the continuously moving paternoster drive;

Transfer of cargo by platforms suspended on four chains in any desirable direction and with platforms remaining always horizontal.

There are no reactive moments in platform guides when transferring any kind and cargo weight.

Platforms moving with a cargo can change their absolute direction of a movement (direction related to surroundings) without to stop a paternoster drive.

With the change of the absolute direction of a movement, for a certain minimum angle, without to stop the paternoster drive, it is possible within one cargo handling operation to change the cargo loading sequence, between two consecutive stationary platforms, from on-loading to off-loading and opposite.

With changing of the paternoster direction of rotation it is possible to change unloading operation to off-loading one and opposite.

The following technical innovations are proposed:

A/ The four-chains paternoster drive instead of the two-chains one. B/ The four-chains suspension of the movable platforms instead of the two - chains one.

C/ Such system and sprocket wheels arrangement which are enabling, when changing the absolute direction of a movement, the smooth passage of the four-chain suspended movable platforms at the upper or lower turning part of the paternoster trajectory, without to stop a drive.

D/ Such design of movable-transfer and stationary-loading platforms and arrangement of their cargo supports (forks) which make possible their reciprocal penetration at their by-passing with simultaneous unloading of cargo between them, without to stop a drive.

The following drawings are enclosed:

Drawing No.1 General Plan - vertical (B - B) section.

In this section a hatch wall is shown on which one half of a total number of the paternoster chains assemblies are presented. The movable platform suspended on four chains and two stationary loading platforms, all are shown in sectional view.

Drawing No.2 General Plan - horizontal (A - A) section.

In this view a four chain paternoster assembly together with the movable transfer and stationary loading platform are presented.

Drawing No. 3 Movement of the transfer platform.

Drawing shows one of the main movement sequences of the transfer platform - First Sequence.

Drawing No. 4 Idem - Second Sequence.

Drawing No. 5 Idem - Third Sequence.

Drawing No. 6 Idem - Fourth Sequence

Drawing No. 7 Platform penetration. It is shown the complementary arrangement of the cargo supports (forks) on the movable and stationary platforms which enables their reciprocal penetration.

Drawing No. 8 Ship four-chains paternoster cargo handling system - perspective view.

Drawing No. 9 Ship four-chains paternoster cargo handling system - First Phase

Drawing No. 10 Idem - Second Phase

Drawing No. 11 Idem - Third Phase

Drawing No. 12 Idem - Fourth Phase

In the drawing No. 1 illustrated vertical view (B - B) is in fact a section B - B as shown on the drawing No. 2.

In this vertical section as shown on the drawing No. 1, within the hatch 1 on the wall 2 there are two sprocket chains 3 and 4, each of them mounted on 4 sprocket wheels. Chain 3 with its wheels is parallel to and distanced from chain

4 and its wheels, both of them parallel to bulkhead 2. Chain 3 is fitted on wheels 5,6,7,8 and chain 4 on wheels 9,10,11,12. The driving wheels 6 and 9 of chains 3 and 4 are mounted coaxially and wedged on the shaft 13, which is fixed on the wall 2.

The leading wheels 7 and 12 are mounted also coaxially and are not wedged on shaft 14, which is fixed also to the wall 2. The leading wheels

5 and 8 are mounted free on shafts 15 and 16, and are fixed to the wall 2. The leading wheels 10 and 11 freely rotate on shafts 17 and 18, which are fixed on cantilever beams 19 and 20 and these fitted and connected to the wall 2 and to the bulkhead 21. In the same drawing there is shown the movable fork platform 25 which by means of its side cantilever beams 26 is suspended by 4 rings 27 on chains 3 and 4 from one side and on chains 23 and 24 from the other side (see also drawing No. 2) . The platform 25 when moving follows the paternoster trajectory in both directions. In the same hatch 1 on the walls 29 and 30 there are loading openings 31 and 32. Opposite to the opening 31 there is a vertically displaceable loading fork platform 33 fitted on the wall 29. Opposite to the opening 32 there is an also vertically displaceable loading fork platform 34 fitted on the bulkhead 21.

In the drawing No. 2 illustrated horizontal view (A - A) is in fact a section A - A as shown on the drawing No. l.

In this horizontal section as shown on the drawing No. 2, within the hatch 1 on the wall 22 placed opposite to the wall 2, there are sprocket chains 23 and 24 in an assembly similar to the same for chains 3 and 4 and fitted mirror symmetrically to them. Between chains 3 and 4 from one side and chains 23 and 24 from the other side there is a movable fork platform 25. This platform by means of its side cantilever beams 27 and four rings 27 is suspended on before mentioned chains. In the same drawing one of two stationary fork platforms is shown, the platform 34 fixed to the bulkhead 21, vertically displaceable.

In the drawing No. 3 (First sequence) it is shown the movement of the movable fork platform 25 respectively one of its two side cantilever beams 26, each of them by means of two rings 27 suspended on two sprocket paternoster chains. The trajectory of this platform follows the paternoster trajectory when moving vertically upwards or downwards to the upper or lower turning part.

In the drawing No. 4 (Second sequence) it is shown a further movement of the platform 25 respectively its beam 26, from the upper horizontal part to the vertical upwards or downwards part of the trajectory.

In the drawing No. 5 (Third Sequence) it is shown a further movement of the platform 25 respectively its beam 26, from the vertical upwards or downwards part to the lower horizontal part of trajectory. In the drawing No. 6 (Fourth sequence) it is shown a further movement of the platform 25 respectively its beam 26, from the lower horizontal part to the vertical upwards or downwards part of trajectory or to the position as illustrated in the first sequence.

In the drawing No. 7 there are shown the movable fork platform 25 and loading stationary platform 34 in the position when in bypassing each other they are at the same level. The forks of both platforms could be seen, being complementary they are in this particular position creating one unique grating surface. This is a moment when the cargo is delivered from one to the other platform.

In the drawings Nos. 8,9,10,11 and 12 it is illustrated how the invention could be applied in practice. As an example there is illustrated the onloading operations of a Four - Chains Paternoster Cargo Handling System on a cargo ship with 4 tweendecks. The above mentioned invented cargo system is in this example composed of 4 movable fork platforms 251,252,253,254, which move continuously following the paternoster trajectory. On all drawings the ship is shown as to be moored in the port alongside the operative pier. The ship side door 42 fitted with the conveyor 43 is in open position and supported on the pier.

Drawing No. 8.

It is shown the ship cargo handling system in the loading operation. From the conveyor 43 the cargo (in this case pallets with bananas) are transferred on the receiving stationary platform 34 where from the movable handling platform 254 is by penetrating the platform 34 just taking over the cargo. Previously on the same way loaded platform 251 is, after passing the upper turning part, just moving down to the tweendecks. In the same path the movable platform 252 just handed over one half of the cargo to the platform 33 placed at the level of deck where unloading is provided, meanwhile the other platform 33 positioned at the level of the lowest deck is expecting the arrival of the platform 252 in order to take over the remaining part of the cargo. The movable platform 253 is just passing the lower horizontal part on its way to the vertical upwards movement in order to take a new cargo from the stationary platform 34.

Drawing No. 9.

The cargo placed on the conveyor 43 is moving toward the ship side opening until it will be placed on the stationary fork loading platform 34 waiting for arrival of the movable platform

251.

Drawing No. 10.

The movable handling fork platform 251 approaching from below by-passed and penetrated the stationary platform 34 and took over the cargo, The platform 251 is moving upwards.

Drawing No. 11.

The movable platform 251 together with a cargo is just passing the upper turning part of the paternoster trajectory. This platform after performed horizontal movement will start to move downwards. In the same time the platform 252 took over the cargo from the stationary platform 34.

Drawing No. 12.

The descending movable platform 251 in by-passing and penetrating the stationary platform 33, positioned at the level of a chosen tweendeck, is handing over the cargo to the stationary platform 33 respectively by the transfer facility fitted on this platform, further to the tweendeck. By this one working cycle shown on the example of platform 251 is completed. The stationary platforms may be horizontally movable or pivotable out of the path of the moving platforms. By this way the cargo could be delivered to all tweendecks of the ship.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

For the FOUR - CHAINS PATERNOSTER CARGO HANDLING SYSTEM with a paternoster drive, one or more handling movable platform and two or more loading stationary platforms, each movable platform being connected to all four chains.

Cargo handling system as in claim No.l c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the paternoster is composed of four sprocket (Gall) or similar chains, two of which (3,4) are fitted on the wall

(2) and other two (23,24) fitted on the other opposite wall of the same hatch (1) , with each of chains mounted on at least four sprocket chain wheels, of which two of them on each wall are common for both chains.

3. Cargo handling system paternoster drive as in claim No.2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the chains (3,4) mounted on the sprocket wheels, are laying within vertical planes which are to each other distanced and parallel as well as to the hatch wall (2) ; that the chains (23,24) mounted on the sprocket wheels, are laying within vertical planes which are to each other distanced and parallel as well as to the hatch wall (2) ; that all shafts on which the sprocket wheels (3,4) are mounted are fixed on the wall (2) except of two of them of one sprocket chain only, which shafts are fixed to the cantilever beams (19,20) and these beams are by brackets and supports intermediately fixed to the wall 2 and to the bulkhead 21; that all shafts on which the sprocket wheels (23,24) are mounted are fixed on the wall 22 except of two of them of one sprocket chain only, which shafts are fixed to the cantilever beams (19,20), and these beams are by brackets and supports intermediately fixed to the wall 22 and to the bulkhead 21.

Cargo handling system as in claim No. 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the movable handling platform is made of one U-shape frame, where two parallel sides are cantilever beams (19,20) and each of them is by the rotatable rings (27) , fitted from both sides of each cantilever beam, suspended on paternoster chains fitted on walls (2) and (22) so that the cantilever beams can freely transit between chains on which they are suspended.

Movable cargo handling platform as in claim No. 4 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on the main beam of the U-shaped frame, fitted between both cantilever beams, the cargo supports of different types and purposes are suspended or fixed, being also if necessary equipped with mechanised devices for transfer of cargo or with different types of shock absorbers.

6. Stationary loading platform as in claim No. 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the fact that this platform consists of the main beam fixed to the bulkhead (21) or to the paternoster hatch walls (29) or (30) , and that on this beam the cargo supports of different types and purposes are suspended or fixed, being also if necessary equipped with mechanised devices for transfer of cargo or with different types of shock absorbers.

7. Stationary loading platform as in claim No. 6 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that this platform can be vertically displaced, if and as much necessary.

8. Stationary loading platform and movable handling platform as in claim No. 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the design and arrangement of their cargo supports are complementary so that any pair of them when by-passing each other they can also penetrate each other delivering on this way a cargo between them.