Trolley system, apparatus and method
AssigneeStolt-Nielsen USA Inc.
InventorsJulio Cuellar, Dan Shelton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example embodiment of the system, device and method of the present disclosure can provide for moving containers in and out of a service bay using a mechanized platform or trolley. In one example, a station can include a service bay and two lifting bays on opposite sides of the service bay. In one example, a trolley can ride on the tracks between the lifting bays. The trolley can hold two containers positioned side-by-side. In one example, a technician can work on a container placed under the service bay. At the same time, another container placed on the trolley in the lifting bay can be hauled away using a lift truck. The technician can instruct the trolley to move away the container under the service bay and replace it with another container located on the trolley.
Claims14
A system comprising:
- a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay;
- a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container;
- and
- a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley;
- wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- and wherein:
- (1) the service bay includes an access ramp and a roof;
- or
- (2) a side of the trolley is about twice a width of the service bay and wherein a length of the set of tracks is about three times a width of the service bay;
- or
- (3) both (1) and (2).
A system comprising:
- a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay;
- a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container;
- and
- a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley;
- wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- wherein the control unit is configured to receive data from a sensor, and activate the motor for the trolley using the data;
- and wherein:
- (1) the data includes a weight or a weight change of a container under service;
- or
- (2) the data includes a signal indicating that a door of a container has been closed;
- or
- (3) the data includes a signal indicating that a technician has not worked on a container for more than a threshold time;
- or
- (4) any combination of (1), (2), and (3).
A system comprising:
- a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay;
- a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container;
- and
- a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley;
- wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- wherein the control unit is configured to run a machine learning model.
A system comprising:
- a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay;
- a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container;
- and
- a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley;
- wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay;
- wherein:
- (1) wherein at least one of the first container and the second container is an intermodal container, a tank, or a combination thereof, or
- (2) a lift truck is configured to place or remove at least one of the first container and the second container on the trolley;
- or
- (3) both (1) and (2).
A method for facilitating container movement within a system comprising:
- employing one or more trolleys to facilitate movement of two or more containers wherein the one or more trolleys is configured to slide on a set of tracks between a lifting bay and service bay;
- and
- configuring the system such that a first of the two or more containers is subjected to a service step while a second of the two or more containers is subjected to a movement step;
- wherein at least one of the first container and the second container is an intermodal container, a tank, or a combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.