Lifting shipping containers
AssigneeBlok Container Systems Limited
InventorsMartin Clive-Smith, Edward Henry Reynolds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adaptor including a pair of lifting beams for lifting two or more shipping containers in a side by side configuration, each container having corner fittings provided with lifting/fastening sockets. Each lifting beam is designed to extend across one end of the top of the containers to be lifted and has pairs of connectors designed to connect to the lifting sockets provided in the tops of the containers. Each lifting beam, or connecting beams extending between the lifting beams, have sockets for detachable connection with an associated crane or lifting machine to lift the adaptor and containers. Each lifting beam is also a continuous extendable component having first and second portions which are movable relative to each other.
Claims28
An adaptor for lifting two or more shipping containers in a side by side configuration, each container having a top, sides, and ends, with corner fittings provided with lifting sockets, where side by side containers are spaced apart from one another by a spacing, the adaptor comprising:
- a first lifting beam;
- and
- a second lifting beam;
- wherein each lifting beam:
- is configured as a continuous telescopically extendable component;
- is configured to extend transversely across one end of the top of both of the side by side containers to be lifted;
- and
- comprises:
- pairs of connectors configured for insertion into the lifting sockets provided in the tops of the side by side containers;
- sockets for detachable connection with an associated crane or lifting machine to lift the adaptor and the side by side containers;
- a first central portion located between two second outer portions, which portions are movable relative to each other, at least a portion of each second outer portion projecting beyond a respective end of the first central portion;
- and
- actuator means connected between the first and second portions so that the second outer portions can be moved relative to the first central portion to vary the effective transverse length of each telescopically extendable lifting beam to enable the spacing between the side by side containers to be varied at one or both ends of the side by side containers.
An adaptor for lifting two or more shipping containers in a side by side configuration, each container having a top, sides, and ends, with corner fittings provided with lifting sockets, where side by side containers are spaced apart from one another by a spacing, the adaptor comprising:
- a first lifting beam;
- a second lifting beam;
- and
- connecting beams which extend between the lifting beams longitudinally relative to the side by side containers to be lifted;
- wherein each lifting beam:
- is configured as a continuous extendable component;
- is configured to extend transversely across one end of the top of both of the side by side containers to be lifted;
- and
- comprises:
- pairs of connectors configured for insertion into the lifting sockets provided in the tops of the side by side containers;
- first and second portions which are movable relative to each other;
- and
- actuator means connected between the first and second portions so that the first and second portions can be moved relative to each other to vary the effective transverse length of each lifting beam to enable the spacing between the side by side containers to be varied at one or both ends of the side by side containers;
- wherein sockets for detachable connection with an associated crane or lifting machine to lift the adaptor and the side by side containers are incorporated into the group consisting of the first lifting beam, the second lifting beam, the connecting beams and combinations thereof;
- and
- wherein one or more:
- the second portion of each lifting beam is located inside the first portion with slots formed through the first portion through which the connectors and associated blocking pins project;
- the connectors for the containers to be lifted are provided with weight sensors which report to a beam control system which works out where the movable balance weight needs to move to in order to balance each lifting beam for lifting;
- the adaptor further comprises additional connectors on either or both the first and second portions to enable when an additional container is lifted between the parted side by side containers;
- and
- the adaptor further comprises cushioning means between the second portion or portions of each beam and the first portion of each beam to absorb impacts sustained by the second portion or portions during use of the adaptor.
An adaptor for lifting two or more shipping containers in a side by side configuration, each container having a top, sides, and ends, with corner fittings provided with lifting sockets, where side by side containers are spaced apart from one another by a spacing, the adaptor comprising:
- a first lifting beam;
- a second lifting beam;
- and
- connecting beams which extend between the lifting beams longitudinally relative to the side by side containers to be lifted;
- wherein each lifting beam:
- is configured as a continuous extendable component;
- is configured to extend transversely across one end of the top of both of the side by side containers to be lifted;
- and
- comprises:
- pairs of connectors configured for insertion into the lifting sockets provided in the tops of the side by side containers;
- first and second portions which are movable relative to each other;
- and
- actuator means connected between the first and second portions so that the first and second portions can be moved relative to each other to vary the effective transverse length of each lifting beam to enable the spacing between the side by side containers to be varied at one or both ends of the side by side containers;
- wherein sockets for detachable connection with an associated crane or lifting machine to lift the adaptor and the side by side containers are incorporated into the group consisting of the first lifting beam, the second lifting beam, the connecting beams and combinations thereof;
- wherein the lifting beams and connecting beams are made in sub-assemblies;
- and
- wherein assembly of the adaptor is facilitated by making the connection between the sub-assemblies of lifting beams and connecting beams self jigging.
The adaptor according to 21, wherein the actuator means comprises hydraulic actuator means;
- and
- wherein the cushioning means is provided in the hydraulic actuator means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.